HB 1208 Summary

• Requires chairs or acting chairs of standing committees, joint committees, and certain statutory committees to administer an oath to all witnesses giving testimony, with the oath affirmed under penalties for perjury.

• Establishes the standard oath form: "I, (name), affirm under the penalties for perjury that the testimony that I am about to give or have given to (committee name) is the truth to the best of my knowledge and belief."

• Allows the legislative council to prescribe alternative oath forms suitable to different circumstances, and permits witnesses to state the oath orally or in writing signed and dated by the witness.

• Authorizes the legislative council to determine whether probable cause exists that a witness violated their oath and requires prosecuting attorneys to obtain a legislative council referral before bringing criminal charges for oath violations.

• Makes conforming changes to statutes regarding notarial powers of general assembly members and requires oath administration under this chapter in commission proceedings.

• Effective July 1, 2012.