The Commissioner of Agriculture shall have power to subpoena dealers and others, and such books, papers, records, accounts and other data as in his judgment may be necessary to effectuate the policy and provisions of this part or any order, ruling, regulation or direction promulgated hereunder. The commissioner or his designated agent may issue subpoenas and administer oaths to witnesses. Witnesses so required to attend shall be entitled to the same fees and mileage as are paid to witnesses required to appear in the Superior Court. If any person fails to appear in response to such subpoena, to produce matter required thereunder or to answer any question addressed to him by the commissioner or his designated agent, the superior court for any judicial district or, if the person is not located in this state, the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford, or any judge thereof when such court is not in session, upon application made to it or to him alleging such failure, may make an order requiring such person to appear before the commissioner or his agent and answer any material question and produce the matter required; provided, when any testimony is refused upon a valid claim of privilege to prevent self-incrimination, such testimony may be required but shall not be used in any criminal proceeding to incriminate the witness claiming such privilege. If any person fails to comply with any requirement of such order, the court or judge shall commit such person to a community correctional center until he complies therewith, but not for a longer period than sixty days.

(1949 Rev., S. 3139; 1959, P.A. 637, S. 2; 1961, P.A. 67; 1969, P.A. 297; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 446, 448; P.A. 78-280, S. 2, 6, 127; P.A. 88-230, S. 1, 12; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-142, S. 4, 7, 8; P.A. 95-220, S. 4–6; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(e); P.A. 04-189, S. 1.)

History: 1959 act replaced commissioner and department of agriculture with commissioner and department of agriculture, conservation and natural resources; 1961 act replaced commissioner and department of agriculture, conservation and natural resources with commissioner and department of agriculture and natural resources; 1969 act substituted “community correctional center” for “jail”; 1971 act replaced commissioner and department of agriculture and natural resources with commissioner and department of agriculture; P.A. 78-280 substituted “judicial district” for “county” and “judicial district of Hartford-New Britain” for “Hartford county”; P.A. 88-230 replaced “judicial district of Hartford-New Britain” with “judicial district of Hartford”, effective September 1, 1991; P.A. 90-98 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1991, to September 1, 1993; P.A. 93-142 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993; P.A. 95-220 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 replaced Commissioner of Agriculture with Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-189 repealed Sec. 146 of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective June 1, 2004.

See Sec. 52-260 re witness fees.