(a)  In connection with any matters having to do with the discharge of his or her duties pursuant to this chapter, the director, or his or her designee, in all cases of every nature pending before him or her, is hereby authorized and empowered to summon witnesses to attend and testify in like manner as in either the supreme or the superior courts. The director, or his or her designee, is authorized to compel the production of all papers, books, documents, records, certificates, or other legal evidence that may be necessary for the determination and the decision of any question or the discharge of any duty required by law of the department, including the functions of the superintendents of banking and insurance, by issuing a subpoena duces tecum signed by the director, or his or her designee.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 42-14-11

  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
  • Subpoena duces tecum: A command to a witness to produce documents.
  • Testify: Answer questions in court.
  • Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.

(b)  Every person who disobeys this writ shall be considered in contempt of the department, and the department may punish that and any other contempt of the authority in like manner as contempt may be punished in either the supreme or the superior court.

(c)  Any person who shall willfully swear falsely in any proceedings, matter, or hearing before the department shall be deemed guilty of the crime of perjury.

History of Section.
P.L. 1979, ch. 139, § 1; P.L. 2007, ch. 340, § 16; P.L. 2018, ch. 47, art. 3, § 8.