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§4-5-1. Commission continued as "commission on special investigations"; composition; appointment and terms of members.
The purchasing practices and procedures commission, heretofore created, shall continue in existence but on and after the effective date of this section shall be named and designated the "commission on special investigations." The commission shall continue to be composed of five members of the Senate, to be appointed by the president thereof, no more than three of whom shall be from the same political party; and five members of the House of Delegates, to be appointed by the speaker thereof, no more than three of whom shall be appointed from the same political party: Provided, That in the event the membership of a political party is less than fifteen percent in the House of Delegates or Senate, then the membership of that political party from the legislative house with less than fifteen percent membership may be one from that house. The commission shall be headed by two cochairmen, one to be selected by and from the members appointed from the Senate, and one to be selected by and from the members appointed from the House of Delegates. All members of the commission shall serve until their successors shall have been appointed as heretofore provided.

§4-5-2. Powers and duties generally.
The commission on special investigations shall have the power, duty and responsibility, upon a majority vote of the members appointed, to:

(1) Conduct a comprehensive and detailed investigation into the purchasing practices and procedures of the state;

(2) Determine if there is reason to believe that the laws or public policy of the state in connection with purchasing practices and procedures have been violated or are inadequate;

(3) Determine if any criminal or civil statutes relating to the purchasing practices and procedures in this state are necessary to protect and control the expenditures of money by the state;

(4) Investigate or examine any matter involving conflicts of interest, bribery of state officials, malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance in office by any employee or officer of the state;

(5) Conduct comprehensive and detailed investigations to determine if any criminal or civil statutes have been violated at any level of state government;

(6) Determine whether to recommend criminal prosecution or civil action for any violation, either criminal or civil, at any level of state government and, if it is determined that action is necessary, to make appropriate recommendation to the attorney general, prosecuting attorney or other authority empowered to act on such recommendation; and

(7) Make such written reports to the members of the Legislature between sessions thereof as the commission may deem advisable and on the first day of each regular session of the Legislature make an annual report to the Legislature containing the commission's findings and recommendations including in such report drafts of any proposed legislation which it deems necessary to carry such recommendations into effect.

The commission is also expressly empowered and authorized to:

(1) Sit during any recess of the Senate and House of Delegates;

(2) Recommend to the judge of any circuit court that a grand jury be convened pursuant to the provisions of section fourteen, article two, chapter fifty-two of this code, to consider any matter which the commission may deem in the public interest and, in support thereof, make available to such court and such grand jury the contents of any reports, files, transcripts of hearings or other evidence pertinent thereto;

(3) Employ such legal, technical, investigative, clerical, stenographic, advisory and other personnel as it deems needed and, within the appropriation herein specified, fix reasonable compensation of such persons and firms as may be employed: Provided, That such personnel as the commission may determine shall have the authority to administer oaths and take affidavits and depositions anywhere in the state;

(4) Consult and confer with all persons and agencies, public (whether federal, state or local) and private, that have information and data pertinent to an investigation; and all state and local governmental personnel and agencies shall cooperate to the fullest extent with the commission;

(5) Call upon any department or agency of state or local government for such services, information and assistance as it may deem advisable; and

(6) Refer such matters as are appropriate to the office of the United States attorney and cooperate with such office in the disposition of matters so referred.

§4-5-3. Executive sessions; hearings; subpoena power; enforcement provisions.
The commission shall have the power and authority to hold executive sessions for the purpose of establishing business, policy, an agenda and the interrogation of a witness or witnesses: Provided, That if a witness desires a public or open hearing he shall have the right to demand the same and shall not be heard otherwise: Provided, however, That if a witness desires a hearing in an executive session, he shall have the right to demand the same and shall not be heard otherwise. However, members of the staff of the commission may be permitted to attend executive sessions with permission of the commission.

The commission is hereby empowered and authorized to examine witnesses and to subpoena such persons and books, records, documents, papers or any other tangible things as it believes should be examined to make a complete investigation. All witnesses appearing before the commission shall testify under oath or affirmation, and any member of the commission may administer oaths or affirmations to such witnesses. To compel the attendance of witnesses at such hearings or the production of any books, records, documents, papers or any other tangible thing, the commission is hereby empowered and authorized to issue subpoenas, signed by one of the cochairmen, in accordance with section five, article one, chapter four of this code. Such subpoenas shall be served by any person authorized by law to serve and execute legal process and service shall be made without charge. Witnesses subpoenaed to attend hearings shall be allowed the same mileage and per diem as is allowed witnesses before any petit jury in this state.

If any person subpoenaed to appear at any hearing shall refuse to appear or to answer inquiries there propounded, or shall fail or refuse to produce books, records, documents, papers or any other tangible thing within his control when the same are demanded, the commission shall report the facts to the circuit court of Kanawha county or any other court of competent jurisdiction and such court may compel obedience to the subpoena as though such subpoena had been issued by such court in the first instance.

§4-5-4. Compensation and expenses of members; other expenses; how paid; joint committee approval.
The members of the commission shall receive travel, interim and out-of-state expenses, as authorized in sections six, eight and nine, article two-a, chapter four of this code. Such expenses and all other expenses including those incurred in the employment of legal, technical, investigative, clerical, stenographic, advisory and other personnel shall be paid from the appropriation under "Account No. 103 for Joint Expenses," but no expense of any kind whatever shall be incurred unless the approval of the joint committee on government and finance therefor is first had and obtained by the commission.

§4-5-5. Investigations exempt from public disclosure requirements.
The investigations conducted by the commission and the materials placed in the files of the commission as a result of any such investigation are exempt from public disclosure under the provisions of chapter twenty-nine-b of this code.

§4-5-6. False statements to commission.
(a) A person is guilty of making a false statement to the commission on special investigations when:

(1) Such person, with the intent to impede the commission or to impede an investigator of the commission acting in the lawful exercise of his or her official duties, knowingly and willfully makes any false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or representation, or makes or uses any false writing or document knowing the same to contain any false, fictitious or fraudulent statement or entry;

(2) Such statement, representation, writing or document is made or given to the commission or an investigator of the commission acting in the lawful exercise of his or her official duties; and

(3) The misrepresentation is material.

(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section are not applicable to a person in the relation of husband and wife, parent or grandparent, child or grandchild, brother or sister, by consanguinity or affinity, of an individual who is the subject of an investigation by the commission.

(c) Any person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars, or confined in jail for not more than one year, or both, in the discretion of the court.

Note: WV Code updated with legislation passed through the 2012 1st Special Session