00                            SENATE BILL NO. 376                                                                         
01 "An Act relating to public assistance and subpoena powers."                                                             
02 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
03    * Section 1.  AS 47.05 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                 
04            Sec. 47.05.085.  Subpoena power.  (a)  The commissioner or the                                           
05       commissioner's designee may issue subpoenas to compel the production of books,                                    
06       papers, correspondence, memoranda, and other records considered necessary as                                      
07       evidence in connection with an investigation under or the administration of AS 47.07                              
08       (medical assistance), AS 47.08 (assistance for catastrophic illnesses and acute or                                
09       chronic medical conditions), AS 47.25 (day care assistance, child care grants, general                            
10       relief, adult public assistance, and food stamps), and AS 47.27 (Alaska temporary                                 
11       assistance program).                                                                                              
12            (b)  In case of refusal to obey a subpoena issued to any person under (a) of this                            
13       section, the superior court may, upon application by the department, issue an order                               
14       requiring the person to appear before the department to produce evidence if ordered.                              
15       Failure to obey the order of the court is punishable as contempt.                                                 

01            (c)  A person who, without just cause, fails or refuses to produce books,                                    
02       papers, correspondence, memoranda, and other records, if it is in the person's power to                           
03       do so, in obedience to a subpoena of the department or an authorized representative of                            
04       it, upon conviction, is punishable by a fine of not more than $200, or by imprisonment                            
05       for not more than 60 days, or by both.  Each day the failure or refusal continues is a                            
06       separate offense.