§23-5  Auditor; powers.  (a)  Theauditor may examine and inspect all accounts, books, records, files, papers,and documents and all financial affairs of every department, office, agency,and political subdivision.

(b)  The auditor may cause search to be madeand extracts to be taken from any account, book, file, paper, record, ordocument in the custody of any public officer without paying any fee for thesame; and every officer having the custody of the accounts, books, records,files, papers, and documents shall make such search and furnish such extractsas thereto requested.

(c)  The auditor may issue:

(1)  Subpoenas compelling at a specified time andplace the appearance and sworn testimony of any person whom the auditorreasonably believes may be able to provide information relating to any audit orother investigation undertaken pursuant to this chapter; and

(2)  Subpoenas duces tecum compelling the productionof accounts, books, records, files, papers, documents, or other evidence, whichthe auditor reasonably believes may relate to an audit or other investigationbeing conducted under this chapter.

Upon application by the auditor, obedience to thesubpoena may be enforced by the circuit court in the county in which the personsubpoenaed resides or is found in the same manner as a subpoena issued by theclerk of the circuit court. [L Sp 1959 1st, c 14, pt of §1; Supp, §2-33; HRS§23-5; gen ch 1985; am L 2000, c 275, §1]