Title 20 — EducationRelease 119-73
§1097a Administrative subpoenas
Title 20 › Chapter CHAPTER 28— - HIGHER EDUCATION RESOURCES AND STUDENT ASSISTANCE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER IV— - STUDENT ASSISTANCE › Part Part G— - General Provisions Relating to Student Assistance Programs › § 1097a
Summary
The Secretary can order people or groups to turn over records, reports, answers, and other paperwork about any program under this subchapter, using an official demand (a subpoena). If someone refuses to obey, the Secretary can ask the Attorney General to go to a federal court where the person lives or does business to force compliance.
Full Legal Text
Title 20, §1097a
Education — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)To assist the Secretary in the conduct of investigations of possible violations of the provisions of this subchapter, the Secretary is authorized to require by subpoena the production of information, documents, reports, answers, records, accounts, papers, and other documentary evidence pertaining to participation in any program under this subchapter. The production of any such records may be required from any place in a State.
(b)In case of contumacy by, or refusal to obey a subpoena issued to, any person, the Secretary may request the Attorney General to invoke the aid of any court of the United States where such person resides or transacts business for a court order for the enforcement of this section.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective Oct. 1, 1998, except as otherwise provided in Pub. L. 105–244, see section 3 of Pub. L. 105–244, set out as an
Effective Date
of 1998 Amendment note under section 1001 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
20 U.S.C. § 1097a
Title 20 — Education
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73