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Committee OKs higher penalty for failing to comply with legislative subpoenas
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Summary
The Corporations Committee voted to advance House Bill 83, which raises the civil penalty for failing to appear or refusing to testify in response to a legislative subpoena from $100 to $750; the bill passed on a 9-0 roll call.
The Corporations Committee advanced House Bill 83 on a 9-0 roll call after hearing a short presentation from the secretary of state's office.
Joe Rubino, policy director and general counsel for the secretary of state's office, told the committee HB83 (26 LSO 248) amends Title 28 to increase the penalty for failure to appear or refusal to testify in response to a legislative subpoena. "Line 14 changes the $100 penalty to $750," Rubino said, and page 2 clarifies penalties could be applied "either or both." The presentation said the change responds to an instance this year when an individual refused to appear for a management audit subpoena.
Committee members asked about the history and application of subpoenas in oversight work. Chairman Knapp emphasized that subpoenas are "very important" in oversight to ensure entities appear for questioning and to let committee members obtain answers in person or by Zoom. No members of the public testified for or against the bill during the committee hearing.
The committee moved and seconded the bill, then held a roll-call vote. The clerk reported nine affirmative votes and the bill passed the committee. The chair closed public testimony and declared HB83 reported out of committee.
