For the purpose of conducting any public adjudicatory hearing under this chapter, the chief, or the reclamation commission may require the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, records, and papers, and may, and at the request of any party, shall issue subpoenas for witnesses or subpoenas duces tecum to compel the production of any books, records, papers, or other material relevant to the inquiry, directed to the sheriff of the counties where the witnesses or materials are found, which subpoenas shall be served and returned in the same manner as subpoenas issued by courts of common pleas are served and returned. The fees of sheriffs shall be the same as those allowed by the court of common pleas in criminal cases. Witnesses shall be paid the fees and mileage provided for under section 119.094 of the Revised Code.

In cases of disobedience or neglect of any subpoena served on any person or the refusal of any witness to testify to any matter regarding which the witness may lawfully be interrogated, the court of common pleas of the county in which such disobedience, neglect, or refusal occurs, or any judge thereof, on application of the chief or the commission or any member thereof, shall compel obedience by attachment procedures for contempt as in the case of disobedience of the requirements of a subpoena issued from the court or a refusal to testify therein.

A witness at any hearing shall testify under oath or affirmation, which the chief or any member of the commission may administer.

Hearing officers designated by the commission shall have the same powers and authority in conducting the hearings as granted to the commission. Whenever a hearing officer conducts a hearing, the officer shall prepare a report setting forth the hearing officer's findings of fact and conclusions of law and a recommendation of the action to be taken by the commission. The hearing officer shall file the report with the secretary of the commission and shall mail a copy by certified mail to the parties. A party may, within fourteen days after receipt of the report, serve and file written objections to the hearing officer's report with the secretary of the commission. Objections shall be specific and state with particularity the grounds therefor. Upon consideration of the objections, the commission may adopt, reject, or modify the report; hear additional evidence; return the report to the hearing officer with instructions; or hear the matter itself.

Effective Date: 12-02-1996; 2008 HB525 07-01-2009 .