The commissioner and any agent of the commissioner duly authorized to conduct any inquiry, investigation or hearing pursuant to sections 12-263s to 12-263x, inclusive, shall have power to administer oaths and take testimony under oath relative to the matter of inquiry or investigation. At any hearing ordered by the commissioner, the commissioner or the commissioner’s agent authorized to conduct such hearing and having authority by law to issue such process may subpoena witnesses and require the production of books, papers and documents pertinent to such inquiry or investigation. No witness under subpoena authorized to be issued under the provisions of this section shall be excused from testifying or from producing books, papers or documentary evidence on the ground that such testimony or the production of such books, papers or documentary evidence would tend to incriminate such witness, but such books, papers or documentary evidence so produced shall not be used in any criminal proceeding against such witness. If any person disobeys such process or, having appeared in obedience thereto, refuses to answer any pertinent question put to such person by the commissioner or the commissioner’s authorized agent, or to produce any books, papers or other documentary evidence pursuant thereto, the commissioner or such agent may apply to the superior court of the judicial district wherein the taxpayer resides or wherein the business has been conducted, or to any judge of such court if the same is not in session, setting forth such disobedience to process or refusal to answer, and such court or such judge shall cite such person to appear before such court or such judge to answer such question or to produce such books, papers or other documentary evidence and, upon such person’s refusal so to do, shall commit such person to a community correctional center until such person testifies, but not for a period longer than sixty days. Notwithstanding the serving of the term of such commitment by any person, the commissioner may proceed in all respects with such inquiry and examination as if the witness had not previously been called upon to testify. Officers who serve subpoenas issued by the commissioner or under the commissioner’s authority and witnesses attending hearings conducted by the commissioner pursuant to this section shall receive fees and compensation at the same rates as officers and witnesses in the courts of this state, to be paid on vouchers of the commissioner on order of the Comptroller from the proper appropriation for the administration of this section.

(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-4, S. 8.)

History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-4 effective November 21, 2017.