HB 171

Sponsors

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Legislature, committees, chair of committee authorized to issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of papers

Description

Under existing law, there is no provision for the issuance of subpoenas by chairs of standing committees of the Legislature

This bill would authorize the chair of a committee of either house of the Legislature, by majority vote of the committee, to issue a subpoena to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of papers, documents, files, and other evidence before the committee and would establish procedures for the issuance of such subpoenas

This bill would provide penalties for persons who fail to properly respond to a legislative subpoena

This bill would provide for payment of certain expenses of witnesses

Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose

The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of the amendment. However, the bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective because it comes within one of the specified exceptions contained in the amendment

Relating to the Legislature; to authorize the chair of a committee of either house of the Legislature to issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of papers; to establish procedures for the issuance of subpoenas; to provide criminal penalties for persons who fail to properly response to a legislative subpoena or who commit perjury under oath; and to provide for payment of certain expenses of witnesses; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.

Subjects

Legislature