The board must publish notice of hearings and keep hearing records available for public inspection. The chairman may subpoena witnesses and require documents when authorized, and courts may compel compliance and punish contempt.
§3087.137. Hearings A. At hearings conducted by the board, members of the board or members of its staff may testify and present exhibits or other evidence. B. Notice of hearings by the board must be given by publication in the official journal of each parish within the district. C. When authorized by the board, the chairman of the board may subpoena witnesses and require their attendance and testimony before the board. The chairman may require the production of any books, papers, or records material to the questions lawfully before the board. Subpoenas shall be served by any agent of the board, by the sheriff, or by any other officer authorized by law to serve process in this state. No person shall be excused from attending and testifying or producing books, papers, or records, or from obeying the subpoena of the board or of a court of record on the ground that the testimony or evidence required by such person may tend to incriminate or subject the person to penalty or forfeiture. Nothing in this Section shall be construed as requiring any person to produce books, papers, or records, or to testify in response to any inquiry not pertinent to some question lawfully before the board or a court for determination. No natural person shall be subject to criminal prosecution or to any penalty or forfeiture relative to any testimony or evidence required to be provided to the board or a court. However, no person testifying shall be exempt from prosecution and punishment for perjury. D. In the case of failure or refusal of a person to comply with a subpoena issued by the chairman of the board, or in the case of the refusal of a witness to testify or answer as to a matter regarding which the person may be lawfully interrogated, any district court on application of the board may, in term time or in vacation, issue an attachment to compel the person to comply with the subpoena and to appear before the board with the requested documents and to give testimony upon whatever matters are lawfully required. The court may punish for contempt those disobeying its orders as in the case of disobedience of a subpoena issued by the court or refusal to testify therein. E. The board shall make a record of all hearings which shall be available for public inspection at the office of the board during reasonable office hours. Acts 1999, No. 1228, §1.