N.Y. Energy Law 16-107 – Subpoenas, information and document production, enforcement procedures, referrals
§ 16-107. Subpoenas, information and document production, enforcement procedures, referrals. 1. (a) In addition to all other powers provided by this article, the secretary or his or her designee shall have the power and authority to subpoena and require the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers, contracts and any other documents pertaining to any investigation or hearing conducted pursuant to this article. The secretary may issue such subpoenas on his or her own initiative or at the request of the president.
Terms Used In N.Y. Energy Law 16-107
- Authority: means the New York state energy research and development authority. See N.Y. Energy Law 16-102
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
- Person: means any individual, trustee, agency, partnership, association, corporation, company, municipality, political subdivision, or other legal entity. See N.Y. Energy Law 16-102
- President: means the president of the New York state energy research and development authority. See N.Y. Energy Law 16-102
- Product: means any appliance or equipment, other than a motor vehicle, which in operation consumes or is designed to consume energy or to result in the consumption of energy, including any water-related appliance, equipment or fixture that is designed to consume or result in the consumption of energy in its operation or use. See N.Y. Energy Law 16-102
- Secretary: means the secretary of state. See N.Y. Energy Law 16-102
- Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
(b) If any person refuses to comply with a subpoena issued under this section, the department may petition a court of competent jurisdiction to enforce the subpoena and such sanctions as the court may direct.
(c) A subpoena issued under this subdivision shall be regulated by the civil practice law and rules, and is in addition to and not in limitation of the power to make information and document requests under subdivision two of this section.
2. Any person that sells or offers for sale, leases or offers for lease, rents or offers for rent, or installs or offers to install, manufactures or tests in New York state any new product of a type listed in paragraphs (a) through (xx) of subdivision one of section 16-104 of this article, or any new product for which efficiency standards shall have been established pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of subdivision one of section 16-106 of this article, or any product that is subject to federal efficiency standards that shall have been continued in this state pursuant to section 16-105 of this article, shall be obliged, on the request of the secretary or his or her designee, or the request of the president or his or her designee, to supply the secretary and/or the president with such information and documentation as may be required concerning such person's business, business practices, or business methods, or proposed business practices or methods. The obligations contained in this subdivision shall not apply to any person that sells or offers for sale, leases or offers for lease, rents or offers for rent, or installs or offers to install only products described in subdivision three of section 16-104 of this article. The power to make information and document requests is in addition to and not in limitation of the power to issue subpoenas.
3. The secretary shall, before ordering the immediate cessation of any distribution, sale or offer for sale, lease or offer to lease, rent or offer to rent, import or offer to import, or installation or offer of installation of any product, or imposing any civil penalty, injunctive relief, or other relief pursuant to this article upon any person who is alleged to be in violation of any provision of this article or of any regulation adopted pursuant to this article, and at least ten days prior to the date set for the hearing, notify in writing and shall afford such person an opportunity to be heard in person or by counsel in reference thereto. Such written notice may be served by delivery of same personally, or by mailing same by certified mail to the last known business address of such person, or by any method authorized by the civil practice law and rules. The hearing on such charges shall be at such time and place as the department of state shall prescribe. A hearing held by this subdivision shall be held pursuant to the state administrative procedure act, and any applicable regulations adopted by the secretary.
4. A final action of the secretary in imposing a civil penalty, or other order, may be subject to review by a proceeding instituted under Article 78 of the civil practice law and rules.
5. In addition to all other powers provided by this article, the secretary and the president, are authorized, individually or jointly, to refer the results of any investigation conducted by the president pursuant to this article to the attorney general and to request the attorney general to institute, in the name of the secretary and/or the president, an action or proceeding to enforce the provisions of this article. The attorney general shall, at the request of the secretary or president, or may, on his or her own initiative, institute proceedings to enforce the provisions of this article including the imposition of civil penalties or injunctive relief. Nothing in this subdivision shall limit or impair the power and authority of the secretary to conduct enforcement proceedings, to issue orders pursuant to paragraph (b) of subdivision five of section 16-106 of this article, and to impose penalties pursuant to section 16-108 of this article.