41-264. INVESTIGATIVE HEARINGS — SUBPOENA OF WITNESSES — CONDUCT OF HEARING. The state fire marshal or his deputies shall have the power to request the district court to subpoena witnesses and compel them to attend before them, or either of them, and to testify in relation to any matter which by the provisions of this act is subject to inquiry and investigation, and may require the production of any book, paper or document deemed pertinent or necessary to the inquiry, and shall have the power to administer oaths and affirmations to any person appearing as a witness before them. Any such hearing shall be held in the county where the property is located.
Such examination may be public or private, as the officers conducting the investigation may determine, and persons other than those required to be present may be excluded from the place where such examination is held.
If, after such examination of witnesses or any investigation, the state fire marshal or any of his deputies or assistants is of the opinion that the facts in relation to such fire indicate that a crime has been committed, the state fire marshal or any of his deputies or assistants shall present the testimony taken on such examination, together with any other data in his possession, to the prosecuting attorney of the proper county, with the request that the prosecuting attorney institute such criminal proceedings as such testimony or data may warrant.
History:
[(41-264) 1970, ch. 190, sec. 14, p. 547; am. 1970, ch. 249, sec. 1, p. 663; am. and redesig. 1982, ch. 120, sec. 12, p. 342.]