Title 20 — EducationRelease 119-73not60

§1097a Administrative Subpoenas

Title 20 › Chapter 28— HIGHER EDUCATION RESOURCES AND STUDENT ASSISTANCE › Subchapter IV— STUDENT ASSISTANCE › Part G— General Provisions Relating to Student Assistance Programs › § 1097a

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary can issue a legal order (called a subpoena) to make people or organizations hand over records, reports, answers, accounts, papers, and other written evidence about their participation in any program covered by this part. The Secretary can require those materials from anywhere inside a State. If a person refuses or ignores the order, the Secretary may ask the U.S. Attorney General to go to a federal court where that person lives or does business and get a court order 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 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60