(1) The commissioner, upon his or her own motion or upon the complaint of any person, may make any investigations necessary to ensure compliance with this article 61.
Complaints of record and the results of the investigations may, in the discretion ofthe commissioner, be closed to public inspection, except to the person in interest, as defined in section 24-72-202 (4).
At any reasonable time during regular business hours, the commissioner must beprovided free and unimpeded access upon consent or upon obtaining an administrative search warrant to:
Those portions of all buildings, fields, and other areas in which any industrial hemplots are handled for the purpose of carrying out any provision of this article 61 or any rule promulgated pursuant to this article 61; and
All records required to be kept, and the commissioner may make copies of suchrecords for the purpose of carrying out any provision of this article 61 or any rule promulgated pursuant to this article 61.
(4) (a) Whenever the commissioner has reasonable cause to believe a violation of any provision of this article 61 or any rule made pursuant to this article 61 has occurred and immediate enforcement is deemed necessary, the commissioner may issue a cease-and-desist order, which may require any person to cease violating any provision of this article 61 or any rule made pursuant to this article 61. The cease-and-desist order must set forth the provision alleged to have been violated, the facts alleged to have constituted the violation, and the requirement that the actions be ceased forthwith.
(b) If any person fails to comply with a cease-and-desist order within twenty-four hours after receipt of the order, the commissioner may bring a suit for a temporary restraining order or injunctive relief to prevent any further or continued violation of such order.
(5) The commissioner has full authority to administer oaths and take statements; to issue administrative subpoenas requiring the attendance of witnesses before the commissioner and for the production of all books, memoranda, papers and other documents, articles, or instruments; and to compel the disclosure by such witnesses of all facts known to them relative to the matters under investigation. Upon the failure or refusal of any witness to obey an administrative 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 is punishable as contempt of court.
Source: L. 2020: Entire section added, (SB 20-197), ch. 194, p. 908, § 10, effective September 14.