(1) The commissioner, upon the commissioner's own motion or upon the complaint of any person, may make any investigations necessary to ensure compliance with this article.
(2) (a) At any time during regular business hours, for the purpose of carrying out any provision of this article or any rule made pursuant to this article, the commissioner shall have free and unimpeded access upon consent or upon obtaining an administrative search warrant:
To all buildings, yards, warehouses, storage facilities, vehicles, and any other publicor private properties, premises, or carriers in which any commercial fertilizer, soil conditioner, plant amendment, or compost is kept, stored, handled, processed, distributed, or transported;
To all business records related to the production or distribution of any commercialfertilizer, soil conditioner, plant amendment, or compost, including but not limited to any records required to be kept by this article or any rule promulgated pursuant to this article. The commissioner may also make copies of such records.
(b) The commissioner shall have full authority to administer oaths and take statements; to issue administrative subpoenas requiring the attendance of witnesses before the commissioner and the production of all books, memoranda, papers, and other documents, articles, or instruments; and to compel the disclosure by witnesses of all facts known to them relative to the matters under investigation. Upon the failure or refusal of any witness to obey any subpoena, the commissioner may petition the district court and, upon a proper showing, the court may enter an order compelling the witness to appear and testify or produce documentary evidence. Failure to obey such an order of the court shall be punishable as a contempt of court.
(3) Complaints of record made to the commissioner and the results of the investigations of the commissioner may, in the discretion of the commissioner, be closed to public inspection, except as permitted by court order, during the investigatory period and until dismissed or until notice of hearing and charges are served. Any action taken by the commissioner shall be a public record as defined in section 24-72-202, C.R.S.
Source: L. 71: R&RE, p. 141, § 1. C.R.S. 1963: § 6-13-15. L. 77: Entire section amended, p. 1592, § 14, effective July 1. L. 2008: Entire article amended, p. 1622, § 1, effective August 5.