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Senate approves criminal penalty and civil enforcement for PEER subpoenas after debate
Summary
Lawmakers approved a bill adding criminal and civil enforcement mechanisms to the state’s PEER (Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review) committee subpoena power, including a misdemeanor penalty and chancery-court civil enforcement.
The Senate passed legislation that gives the Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER) enforceable remedies when people fail to comply with PEER subpoenas. Sponsors said the change remedies a longstanding enforceability gap: PEER possessed subpoena issuance authority but lacked clear penalties or a separate civil enforcement mechanism.
What the bill does: The legislation creates a criminal penalty for refusing to comply with a PEER subpoena (a fine of up to $1,000 and up to six months in county jail, as stated on the floor) and authorizes civil enforcement through chancery court. The bill also permits the sergeant at arms of the Senate to serve PEER subpoenas and clarifies immunity language for witnesses responding to PEER subpoenas.
Why it matters: PEER is the Legislature’s oversight arm; sponsors said enforceable subpoena remedies are necessary to ensure effective scrutiny of state programs and expenditures. Rival concerns include due-process protections and narrow scope limitations on criminal penalties.
Outcome: The Senate adopted the measure and passed the bill on the floor by morning roll call.
