§16-1-22c. Authority of Investigations and Fraud Management Division to subpoena witnesses and documents.

(a) When the Investigations and Fraud Management Division of the Office of the Inspector General, which is charged with investigating welfare fraud and intra-agency employee misconduct, has credible information that indicates a person has engaged in an act or activity related to the Department of Human Services, the Department of Health and the Department of Health Facilities programs, benefits or intra-agency employee misconduct which is subject to prosecution, it may conduct an investigation to determine if the act has been committed. To the extent necessary to the investigation, the Inspector General or an employee of the Office of the Inspector General may administer oaths or affirmations and issue subpoenas for witnesses and documents relevant to the investigation, including information concerning the existence, description, nature, custody, condition and location of any book, record, documents or other tangible thing and the identity and location of persons having knowledge of relevant facts or any matter reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence.

When the Investigations and Fraud Management Division has probable cause to believe that a person has engaged in an act or activity which is subject to prosecution relating to the Department of Human Services, the Department of Health and the Department of Health Facilities programs, benefits or intra-agency employee misconduct, the Inspector General or an employee of the Office of the Inspector General may request search warrants and present and swear or affirm criminal complaints.

(b) If documents necessary to an investigation of the Investigations and Fraud Management Division appear to be located outside the state, the documents shall be made available by the person or entity within the jurisdiction of the state having control over such documents either at a convenient location within the state or, upon payment of necessary expenses to the division for transportation and inspection, at the place outside the state where these documents are maintained.

(c) Upon failure of a person to comply with a subpoena or a subpoena for the production of evidence or failure of a person to give testimony without lawful excuse and upon reasonable notice to all persons affected thereby, the Investigations and Fraud Management Division may apply to the circuit court of the county in which compliance is sought for appropriate orders to compel obedience with the provisions of this section.

(d) The Investigations and Fraud Management Division may not make public the name or identity of a person whose acts or conduct is investigated pursuant to this section or the facts disclosed in an investigation except as the same may be used in any legal action or enforcement proceeding brought pursuant to this code or federal law.