House Rules #
“The standing committees of the house may have the powers of subpoena, the power to administer oaths, and the power to issue commissions for the examination of witnesses in accordance with the provisions of chapter 44.16 RCW. Before a standing committee of the house may issue any process, the committee chair shall submit for approval of the executive rules committee a statement of purpose setting forth the name or names of those subject to process. The process shall not be issued prior to approval by the executive rules committee. The process shall be limited to the named individuals” (House Rule 27).
Senate Rules #
“Any standing committee, or any special committee created by the senate, may have the powers of subpoena, the power to administer oaths, and the power to issue commissions for the examination of witnesses in accordance with the provisions of chapter 44.16 RCW. The committee chair shall file with the committee on rules, prior to issuance of any process, a statement of purpose setting forth the name or names of those subject to process. The rules committee shall consider every proposed issuance of process at a meeting of the rules committee immediately following the filing of the statement with the committee. The process shall not be issued prior to consideration by the rules committee. The process shall be limited to the named individuals and the committee on rules may overrule the service on an individual so named” (Senate Rule 43).
Joint Rules #
“Joint legislative committees may be created by concurrent resolution originating in either house and passed by a majority vote of both houses. Joint legislative committees may have the powers of subpoena, the power to administer oaths, and the power to issue commissions for the examination of witnesses in accordance with the provisions of chapter 44.16 RCW. Before a joint legislative committee may issue any process, the committee chairperson shall submit for approval of both the executive rules committee of the house of representatives and the rules committee of the senate, a statement of purpose setting forth the name or names of those subject to process. The process shall not be issued prior to approval by both the executive rules committee of the house of representatives and the rules committee of the senate. The process shall be limited to the named individuals” (Joint Rule 9).
“Examination of witnesses—Compulsory process. #
“Every chair or presiding member of any committee of either the senate or house of representatives, or any joint committee of the senate or house of representatives, which, by the terms of its appointment, shall be authorized to send for persons and papers, shall have power, under the direction of such committee, to issue compulsory process for the attendance of any witness within the state whom the committee may wish to examine” (RCW 44.16.010).
“Chair to administer oaths. #
“The chair or presiding member of any committee of either the senate, house of representatives, or any joint committee thereof, shall be authorized to administer oaths to all witnesses coming before such committee for examination; and all witnesses who shall testify in any proceeding provided for in this chapter, shall be under oath or affirmation” (RCW 44.16.030).
“Commission to examine absent witness. #
“Every such chair or presiding member shall also have power, under the direction of the committee, to issue a commission for the examination of any witness who shall be without the jurisdiction of the state, or if within the state, shall be unable to attend, or who shall, for any reasons, be excused by the committee from attendance” (RCW 44.16.040).
“Oath and powers of commissioner. #
“The person to whom such commission shall be directed, if he or she reside within the state and accept the trust, shall, before entering upon the execution of his or her duties, take the oath of office prescribed in the Constitution. Such commissioner shall have power to issue process to compel the attendance of witnesses, whom he or she shall be required to examine, and shall have power to administer oaths to such witnesses” (RCW 44.16.070).
“Punishment of recalcitrant witness. #
“Any person who shall fail to attend as a witness upon any committee appointed by either the house or senate of the state of Washington, or both, after having been duly subpoenaed as provided in this chapter, or who, being in attendance as a witness before such committee, shall refuse to answer any question or produce any paper or document or book which he or she is required to answer or to produce by such committee, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in any sum not exceeding five hundred dollars, or by imprisonment in the county jail for a term not longer than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment” (RCW 44.16.120).
“Failure to attend—Contempt. #
“A person who, being duly summoned to attend as a witness before either house of the legislature, or any committee or joint committee thereof, or commissioner authorized to summon witnesses, refuses or neglects, without lawful excuse, to attend pursuant to such summons, shall be punished as for contempt, as hereinafter provided” (RCW 44.16.130).
“Refusal to testify—Contempt. #
“A person who, being present before either house of the legislature, or any committee or joint committee thereof, or commissioner authorized to summon witnesses, wilfully refuses to be sworn or affirmed, or to answer any material and proper question, or to produce, upon reasonable notice, any material and proper books, papers or documents in his or her possession or under his or her control, shall be punished as for contempt, as hereinafter provided” (RCW 44.16.140).
“Punishment for contempt. #
“Any person being in contempt, as hereinbefore provided, shall be punished by fine in any sum not less than fifty dollars and not exceeding one thousand dollars, or by imprisonment in the county jail in the county where such examination is being had, for any period of time not extending beyond the legislative session then being held, or by both such fine and imprisonment, as the legislative body which authorized such examination may order. And in case the contempt arises in a joint proceeding of both houses, or before a joint committee thereof, the senate shall prescribe the penalty” (RCW 44.16.150).
