NRS218E.050. Power of Houses to imprison for contempt; issuance and service of citation for contempt.

      1.  If a witness commits contempt before:

      (a) The Senate or the Assembly, any member of the House may offer a resolution to have the recusant witness cited to show cause why the witness should not be imprisoned for contempt.

      (b) A committee while the Legislature is in regular or special session, any member of the committee may offer a resolution in the House of which the Legislator is a member to have the recusant witness cited to show cause why the witness should not be imprisoned for contempt, but only if the resolution is first approved by a majority vote of the committee.

      2.  If the resolution is adopted by the House, the House shall issue a citation, signed by the presiding officer of the House:

      (a) Directing the recusant witness to appear before the House at a time and place specified in the citation to show cause, if any, why the witness should not be imprisoned for contempt; and

      (b) Accompanied by a copy of the original legislative subpoena if the recusant witness failed to appear, or stating briefly the questions which the witness failed to answer or the documentary evidence which the witness failed to produce.

      3.  The time and place stated in the citation for the hearing must afford the recusant witness a reasonable opportunity to prepare an appropriate defense.

      4.  The citation must be served personally upon the recusant witness and may be served by any peace officer or by the Sergeant at Arms or any regularly appointed Assistant Sergeant at Arms of the House.

      (Added to NRS by 1973, 298; A 2011, 3209; 2013, 3743)—(Substituted in revision for NRS 218.533)