73 - Enforcement of article; investigations.
§ 73. Enforcement of article; investigations. 1. The secretary of state shall have the power to enforce the provisions of this article and article seven-A of this chapter and upon complaint of any person, or on his own initiative, to investigate any violation thereof or to investigate the business, business practices and business methods of any person, firm, limited liability company, partnership or corporation applying for or holding a license as a private investigator, bail enforcement agent or watch, guard or patrol agency, if in the opinion of the secretary of state such investigation is warranted. Each such applicant or licensee shall be obliged, on request of the secretary of state, to supply such information, books, papers or records as may be required concerning his, their or its business, business practices or business methods, or proposed business practices or methods. Failure to comply with a lawful request of secretary shall be a ground for denying an application for a license, or for revoking, suspending, or failing to renew a license issued under this article. 2. For the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this article and article seven-A of this chapter, and in making investigations relating to any violation thereof, and for the purpose of investigating the character, competency and integrity of the applicants or licensees hereunder, and for the purpose of investigating the business, business practices and business methods of any applicant or licensee, or of the officers or agents thereof, the department of state, acting by such officer or person in the department as the secretary of state may designate, shall have the power to subpoena and bring before the officer or person so designated any person in this state and require the production of any books, records or papers which he deems relevant to the inquiry and administer an oath to and take testimony of any person or cause his deposition to be taken, except that any applicant or licensee or officer or agent thereof shall not be entitled to fees and/or mileage. A subpoena issued under this section shall be regulated by the civil practice law and rules. Any person, duly subpoenaed, who fails to obey such subpoena without reasonable cause or without such cause refuses to be examined or to answer any legal or pertinent question as to the character or qualification of such applicant or licensee or such applicant's or licensee's business, business practices and methods or such violations, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. The testimony of witnesses in any investigative proceeding shall be under oath, which the secretary of state or one of his deputies, or a subordinate of the department of state designated by the secretary of state, may administer, and wilful false swearing in any such proceeding shall be perjury. 3. Licensees hereunder must maintain such records as the secretary of state by rule determines and in addition, the secretary may prescribe by rule that further records be kept by certain classes of licensees.