The banking commissioner may issue and serve subpoenas for investigations under this section, and subpoena recipients can be barred from disclosing them in some cases.
Sec. 35.203. SUBPOENA AUTHORITY. (a) This section applies only to an investigation of an unauthorized activity as provided by Section 35.202 and does not affect the conduct of a contested case under Chapter 2001, Government Code. (b) The banking commissioner may issue a subpoena to compel the attendance and testimony of a witness or the production of a book, account, record, paper, or correspondence relating to a matter that the banking commissioner has authority to consider or investigate at the department's offices in Austin or at another place the banking commissioner designates. (c) The subpoena must be signed and issued by the banking commissioner or a deputy banking commissioner. (d) A person who is required by subpoena to attend a proceeding before the banking commissioner is entitled to receive: (1) reimbursement for mileage, in the amount provided for travel by a state employee, for traveling to or returning from a proceeding that is more than 25 miles from the witness's residence; and (2) a fee for each day or part of a day the witness is necessarily present as a witness in an amount equal to the per diem travel allowance of a state employee. (e) The banking commissioner may serve the subpoena or have it served by an authorized agent of the banking commissioner, a sheriff, or a constable. The sheriff's or constable's fee for serving the subpoena is the same as the fee paid the sheriff or constable for similar services. (f) A person possessing materials located outside this state that are requested by the banking commissioner may make the materials available to the banking commissioner or a representative of the banking commissioner for examination at the place where the materials are located. The banking commissioner may: (1) designate a representative, including an official of the state in which the materials are located, to examine the materials; and (2) respond to a similar request from an official of another state, the United States, or a foreign country. (g) A subpoena issued under this section to a financial institution is not subject to Section 59.006. (h) Except to the extent disclosure is necessary to locate and produce responsive records or obtain legal representation and subject to Subsection (i), a subpoena issued under this section may provide that the person to whom the subpoena is directed or any person who comes into receipt of the subpoena may not: (1) disclose that the subpoena has been issued; (2) disclose or describe any records requested in the subpoena; (3) disclose whether records have been furnished in response to the subpoena; or (4) if the subpoena requires a person to be examined under oath, disclose or describe the examination, including the questions asked, the testimony given, or the transcript produced. (i) A subpoena issued under this section may prohibit the disclosure of information described by Subsection (h) only if the banking commissioner finds, and the subpoena states, that: (1) the subpoena, the examination, or the records relate to an ongoing investigation; and (2) the disclosure could significantly impede or jeopardize the investigation. Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1008, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 412, Sec. 2.15, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 6.103(b), eff. Sept. 1, 2001. Amended by: Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 652 (S.B. 1823), Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2019.