Illinois § 2-113

§ 2-113.

Secretary of State may subpoena witnesses and request the production of books and records. (a) The Secretary of State, or employees designated by him, may request the production of pertinent books, records, letters, contracts or other pertinent documents of any person licensed or required to be licensed or registered under any chapter of this Act, for the purpose of investigations or audits, which in the opinion of the Secretary of State, are necessary and proper for the enforcement of this Act and the collection of any fees or taxes required to be paid under this Act. (b) For the purpose of all hearings which in the opinion of the Secretary of State are necessary and proper for the enforcement of this Act, the Secretary of State, or a person designated by him is empowered to administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena witnesses, take evidence, and require the production of any books, papers or other documents which the Secretary of State, or a person designated by him, deems relevant or material to the inquiry. Any circuit court of this State, upon application by the Secretary of State and upon a proper showing may order the attendance of witnesses, the production of books, papers, accounts and documents and the giving of testimony before the Secretary of State, or a person designated by him; and any failure to obey such order may be punished by such circuit court as a contempt thereof. The fees of subpoenaed witnesses under this Act for attendance and travel shall be the same as fees of witnesses before the circuit courts of the State, such fees to be paid when the witness is excused from further attendance, provided, such witness is subpoenaed at the instance of the Secretary of State; and payment of such fees shall be made and audited in the same manner as other expenses of the Secretary of State. Whenever a subpoena is issued at the request of a complainant or respondent or defendant as the case may be, the Secretary of State may require that the cost of service and the fee of the witness shall be borne by the party at whose instance the witness is summoned. The Secretary of State shall have power in his discretion, to require a deposit to cover the cost of such service and witness fees and the payment of the legal witness fee and mileage to the witness served with subpoena. A subpoena issued under the provisions of this Act shall be served in the same manner as a subpoena issued out of a court. (Source: P.A. 77-1541.)