Rhode Island § 28-42-54 - Employment Security — General Provisions

§ 28-42-54. Administration of oaths — Subpoena of witnesses.

In the discharge of their duties under chapters 42 — 44 of this title, the director or his or her duly authorized representative, the board of review, an appeal tribunal, or any duly authorized representative of the board of review, shall have power to administer oaths to persons appearing before them, take depositions, certify to official acts, and by subpoenas, served in the manner in which court subpoenas are served, to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers, documents, and records necessary or convenient to be used by them in connection with any disputed claim or in the administration of those chapters; provided, that no person shall be excused from attending and testifying or from producing books, papers, correspondence, memoranda, and other records before the director or his or her duly authorized representative, the board of review, an appeal tribunal, or any duly authorized representative of the board of review, or in obedience to his, her, or their subpoena in any cause or proceeding before him, her, or them on the ground that the testimony or evidence, documentary or otherwise, required of him or her may tend to incriminate him or her or subject him or her to a penalty or forfeiture. No individual shall be prosecuted or subjected to any penalty or forfeiture for or on account of any transaction, matter, or thing concerning which he or she is compelled, after having claimed his or her privilege against self-incrimination, to testify or produce evidence, documentary or otherwise, except that an individual so testifying shall not be exempt from prosecution and punishment for perjury committed in so testifying.