Section 400-A:22 Witnesses; Immunity From Prosecution.


   I. If any individual asks to be excused from attending or testifying or from producing any books, papers, records, contracts, correspondence, or other documents in connection with any examination, hearing, or investigation being conducted by the commissioner on the ground that the testimony or evidence required of him may tend to incriminate him or subject him to a penalty or forfeiture, and shall by the insurance commissioner be directed to give such testimony or produce such evidence, he must nonetheless comply with such direction, but he shall not thereafter be prosecuted or subjected to any penalty or forfeiture for or on account of any transaction, matter or thing concerning which he may have so testified or produced evidence, and no testimony so given or evidence produced shall be received against him upon any criminal action, investigation, or proceeding; except, however, that no such individual so testifying shall be exempt from prosecution or punishment for any perjury committed by him in such testimony, and the testimony or evidence so given or produced shall be admissible against him upon any criminal action, investigation, or proceeding concerning perjury; provided further that no witness shall be compelled to testify where such testimony would create a reasonable possibility of penalty or sanction by a court, agency, or other body of competent jurisdiction, which penalty or sanction has not as of the hearing date (or the date of any appeal therefrom) been banned by operation of law or waived as to the witness.
   II. Any such individual may execute, acknowledge and file in the office of the commissioner a statement expressly waiving such immunity or privilege in respect to any transaction, matter or thing specified in such statement, and thereupon the testimony of such individual or such evidence in relation to such transaction, matter or thing may be received or produced before any judge or justice, court, tribunal, grand jury, or otherwise, and if so received or produced, such individual shall not be entitled to any immunity or privileges on account of any testimony he may so give or evidence so produced.

Source. 1971, 244:1, eff. Aug. 17, 1971.