The Florida Senate

497.123  Powers to administer oaths and issue subpoenas.--

(1)(a)  The board or the department has the power to issue and to serve subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of all books, accounts, records, and other documents and materials relevant to an examination or investigation. The department, or its duly authorized representative, has the power to administer oaths and affirmations to any person.

(b)  The board or the department may, in its discretion, seek subpoenas or subpoenas duces tecum from any court of competent jurisdiction commanding the appearance of witnesses and the production of books, accounts, records, and other documents or materials at a time and place named in the subpoenas; and any authorized representative of the department may serve any subpoena.

(2)(a)  In the event of substantial noncompliance with a subpoena or subpoena duces tecum issued or caused to be issued by the board or the department, the board or the department may petition the circuit court or any other court of competent jurisdiction of the county in which the person subpoenaed resides or has its principal place of business for an order requiring the subpoenaed person to appear and testify and to produce such books, accounts, records, and other documents as are specified in the subpoena duces tecum. The court may grant injunctive relief restraining the person from advertising, promoting, soliciting, entering into, offering to enter into, continuing, or completing a contract pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. The court may grant such other relief, including, but not limited to, the restraint, by injunction or appointment of a receiver, of any transfer, pledge, assignment, or other disposition of the person's assets or any concealment, alteration, destruction, or other disposition of books, accounts, records, or other documents and materials as the court deems appropriate, until the person has fully complied with the subpoena duces tecum and the department has completed its investigation or examination. In addition, the court may order the refund of any fees collected in a transaction whenever books and documents substantiating the transaction are not produced or cannot be produced. The department is entitled to the summary procedure provided in s. 51.011, and the court shall advance such cause on its calendar. Attorney's fees and any other costs incurred by the department to obtain an order granting, in whole or part, a petition for enforcement of a subpoena or subpoena duces tecum shall be taxed against the subpoenaed person, and failure to comply with such order is a contempt of court.

(b)  When it appears to the department that the compliance with a subpoena or subpoena duces tecum issued or caused to be issued by the department pursuant to this section is essential and otherwise unavailable to an investigation or examination, the department, in addition to the other remedies provided for in this section, may apply to the circuit court or any other court of competent jurisdiction of the county in which the subpoenaed person resides or has its principal place of business for a writ of ne exeat. The court shall thereupon direct the issuance of the writ against the subpoenaed person requiring sufficient bond conditioned on compliance with the subpoena or subpoena duces tecum. The court shall cause to be endorsed on the writ a suitable amount of bond upon the payment of which the person named in the writ shall be freed, having a due regard to the nature of the case.

(c)  Alternatively, the department may seek a writ of attachment from the court having jurisdiction over the person who has refused to obey a subpoena, who has refused to give testimony, or who has refused to produce the matters described in the subpoena duces tecum.

History.--s. 52, ch. 93-399.