Article 3. Compelling Attendance of California Water Code >> Division 2. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 3. >> Article 3.

The superior court of the county in which any proceeding is held by the board may compel the attendance and giving of testimony by witnesses and the production of evidence as required by any subpena issued by the board.

In case of the refusal of any witness to attend or testify or produce any evidence required by a subpena issued by it, the board may report by petition to the superior court in and for the county in which the proceeding is pending.

The petition shall set forth the following:
  (a) That due notice has been given of the time and place of attendance of the witness or for the production of evidence and that the witness has been summoned in the manner prescribed in this chapter.
  (b) That the witness has failed and refused to attend or produce the evidence required by the subpena before the board in the proceeding named in the notice and subpena, or has refused to answer questions propounded to him in the course of the proceeding.

The petition shall ask an order of court compelling the witness to attend, testify, and produce the evidence before the board.

The court, upon the petition of the board, shall enter an order directing the witness to appear before the court at a time and place fixed by the court in the order and not more than 10 days from the date of the order, and then and there show cause, if any he have, why he refused to obey the subpena, or refused to answer questions propounded to him by the board, or neglected, failed, or refused to produce before the board the evidence called for in the subpena.

A copy of the order and of the petition shall be served upon the witness.

If it appears to the court that the subpena was regularly issued, the court shall thereupon enter an order that the witness appear before the board at the time and place fixed in the order and testify or produce the required evidence or both testify and produce.

Upon failure to obey the order the witness shall be dealt with as for contempt of court.