In connection with investigations or enforcement hearings conducted under the Occupational Health and Safety Act [50-9-1 to 50-9-25 NMSA 1978], the department may apply to the district court for an order requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of evidence under oath. Witnesses shall be paid the same fees and mileage that are paid witnesses in the courts of the state. Any district court, upon application by the department, shall have jurisdiction to issue to such person an order requiring the person to appear and to produce evidence if, as and when so ordered and to give testimony relating to the matter under investigation if the court finds that the evidence or testimony sought is discoverable under the Rules of Civil Procedure for The District Courts. Any failure to obey an order of the court may be punished by the court under its powers of contempt.
History: 1953 Comp., § 59-14-17, enacted by Laws 1972, ch. 63, § 17; 1993, ch. 322, § 16.
Cross references. — For witness fees, see 38-6-4 NMSA 1978.
For depositions and discovery, see Rules 1-026 to 1-037 NMRA.
The 1993 amendment, effective April 8, 1993, substituted "department" for "board or agency" in the first and third sentences and made a minor stylistic change.
Employers may be present at discovery proceedings conducted by the environmental improvement division. Kent Nowlin Constr., Inc. v. Envtl. Improvement Div., 1982-NMSC-094, 99 N.M. 294, 657 P.2d 621.
Structure New Mexico Statutes
Article 9 - Occupational Health and Safety
Section 50-9-2.1 - Legislative findings.
Section 50-9-4 - State occupational health and safety agency.
Section 50-9-5 - Employer and employee duties.
Section 50-9-5.1 - Employer duties; hazardous chemicals.
Section 50-9-6 - Training; assistance; consultation; research.
Section 50-9-7 - Duties and powers of the board.
Section 50-9-8 - Duties and powers of the department.
Section 50-9-9 - Occupational health and safety review commission; creation; organization.
Section 50-9-10 - Right of entry and inspection; complaints; consultation; notification.
Section 50-9-11 - Reports and record keeping by employers.
Section 50-9-12 - Adoption of regulations; notice and hearing.
Section 50-9-13 - Adopting standards by reference.
Section 50-9-14 - Emergency procedures.
Section 50-9-15 - Validity of regulation; variance determination; judicial review.
Section 50-9-16 - Variances; temporary variances.
Section 50-9-17 - Enforcement; appeals.
Section 50-9-18 - Subpoena power.
Section 50-9-19 - Accident reports and records.
Section 50-9-20 - Coordination.
Section 50-9-21 - Civil actions; admissibility as evidence; confidentiality of trade secrets.
Section 50-9-23 - Limitation on applicability of the act to certain employers and their employees.