A. As used in this section:

(1) "hearing" means any hearing in the course of an investigatory proceeding conducted before the commission at which testimony or the production of other evidence is compelled by subpoena;

(2) "public hearing" means any hearing open to the public, or any hearing, or such part thereof, as to which testimony or other evidence is made available or disseminated to the public by the commission; and

(3) "private hearing" means any hearing other than a public hearing.

B. No person may be required to appear at a hearing or to testify at a hearing unless there has been personally served upon him prior to the time when he is required to appear, a copy of the Organized Crime Act, and a general statement of the subject of the investigation. A copy of the resolution, statute, order or other provision of law authorizing the investigation shall be furnished by the commission upon request by the person summoned.

C. A witness summoned to a hearing shall have the right to be accompanied by counsel, who shall be permitted to advise the witness of his rights, subject to reasonable limitations to prevent obstruction of or interference with the orderly conduct of the hearing. Counsel for any witness who testifies at a public hearing may submit proposed questions to be asked of the witness relevant to the matters upon which the witness has been questioned, and the commission shall ask the witness such of the questions as it may deem appropriate to its inquiry.

D. A complete and accurate record shall be kept of each public hearing and a witness shall be entitled to receive a copy of his testimony at such hearing at his own expense. Where testimony which a witness has given at a private hearing becomes relevant in a criminal proceeding in which the witness is a defendant, or in any subsequent hearing in which the witness is summoned to testify, the witness shall be entitled to a copy of such testimony, at his own expense, provided a copy is available, and provided further that the furnishing of such copy will not prejudice the public safety or security.

E. A witness who testifies at any hearing shall have the right at the conclusion of his examination to file a brief sworn statement relevant to his testimony for incorporation in the record of the investigatory proceeding.

F. Any person whose name is mentioned or who is specifically identified and who believes that testimony or other evidence given at a public hearing or comment made by any member of the commission or its counsel at such a hearing tends to defame him or otherwise adversely affect his reputation shall have the right, either to appear personally before the commission and testify in his own behalf as to matters relevant to the testimony or other evidence complained of, or in the alternative at the option of the commission, to file a statement of facts under oath relating solely to matters relevant to the testimony or other evidence complained of, which statement shall be incorporated in the record of the investigatory proceeding.

G. Nothing in the Organized Crime Act shall be construed to prevent the commission from granting to witnesses appearing before it, or to persons who claim to be adversely affected by testimony or other evidence adduced before it, such further rights and privileges as it may determine.

H. Nothing in the Organized Crime Act shall be construed to affect, diminish or impair the right, under any other provision of law, rule or custom, of any member or group of members of the commission to file a statement or statements of minority views to accompany and be released with or subsequent to the report of the commission.

History: 1953 Comp., § 39-9-16, enacted by Laws 1977, ch. 215, § 8.

Compiler's notes. — Laws 1981, ch. 234, § 2, repealed Laws 1977, ch. 215, § 9, which had provided that the act shall terminate on July 1, 1981.