A. During any session of the Legislature, and when the Legislature is not in session, a legislative committee shall have power to issue subpoenas, compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of any papers, books, accounts, documents, testimony and evidence, and to cause the deposition of witnesses, either residing within or without the state, to be taken in the manner prescribed by law for the taking of depositions in civil actions in the district courts.
B. Failure of any person to comply with any subpoena issued in behalf of said committee or the refusal of any witness to testify to any matters regarding which he may be lawfully interrogated, upon application of the chairman or vice chairman of said committee or of a member of said committee authorized thereby to make such application, it shall be the duty of a judge of the district court of any county to proceed with respect to such person in the same manner and with the same powers to punish for contempt, as would be the case if the refusal had been a refusal to comply with a subpoena issued in a civil action, or a refusal of said person to testify in a civil action in said court. It shall also be the duty of the district court, when requested in the application, to issue instanter and ex parte an order requiring such person to attend at the time and place set out in said application to testify as a witness, and directing such person to bring with him any book, writing or other thing under his control, said orders to be served as provided by law for the service of a subpoena. A judge of the district court shall have power to punish or enforce compliance, by attachment or otherwise, refusal to obey such orders as in other cases of refusal to obey the orders and processes of the court. It shall also be the duty of the judge of the district court, when requested in the application, to issue instanter and ex parte an attachment to the sheriff, any constable of the county, or the sergeant at arms or assistant sergeant at arms of either house, commanding him to arrest and bring such person before said committee at the time and place set out in said application. If the attachment is not for immediately bringing the witness before the committee, the court may fix a sum in which such person may give an undertaking with surety, for his appearance at the time and place specified in said attachment; such sum shall be endorsed on the back of the attachment. If no sum is fixed and endorsed, it shall be One Hundred Dollars ($100.00). If the said undertaking is not given, the person shall be held in the county jail until taken by the sheriff or other authorized person to the place at said time.
Laws 1959, p. 489, § 3; Laws 1981, c. 272, § 32, eff. July 1, 1981.