§34-24-363. Witnesses - How subpoenaed and sworn; failure to comply.

(a) To any such hearing witnesses may be subpoenaed by the commission on its own motion, or on the demand of either side by subpoena signed by the chairman of the commission, or by the executive officer of the commission, and such subpoenas may be served by any sheriff of the State of Alabama, or by the executive officer of the commission or by any person designated by the executive officer; and, if served by anyone other than a sheriff, the return of service shall be sworn to by the person before some officer authorized to administer oaths. Witnesses may be sworn by the chairman or by the person discharging the duties of the chairman. Similar subpoenas may be issued directing the production of books, papers, or documents at the hearing.

(b) In conducting its investigations, the State Board of Medical Examiners shall have the authority to subpoena witnesses and command the production at any of its meetings of such books, documents, records, and papers as it deems pertinent to any matter under investigation. The board, by order of its chairman or executive director, may require any person to produce within this state, at such reasonable time and place as it may designate, any books, documents, records, or papers kept in any office or place without or within this state, or certified copies thereof, whenever the production thereof is reasonably required and pertinent to any matter under investigation before the board, in order that an examination thereof may be made by the board, or by any person employed by the board.

(c) In case of failure or refusal on the part of any person to comply with any subpoena, or on the refusal of any witness to testify or answer as to any matter regarding which he or she may lawfully be interrogated, any circuit court in this state, or any judge thereof, on application of the board or its executive director, may issue an attachment for such person and compel him or her to comply with such order, or to attend before the board and produce such documents and give his or her testimony upon such matters as may be lawfully required, and the court or judge shall have the power to punish for contempt as in cases of disobedience of a like order or subpoena issued by or from such court, or a refusal to testify therein.

(Acts 1981, No. 81-218, p. 273, §22.)