# Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 233, sec. 8: Bodies authorized to summon witnesses; oath

> Massachusetts · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIII_TII_C233_S8

## Section

- **Citation:** Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 233, sec. 8
- **Heading:** Bodies authorized to summon witnesses; oath
- **Jurisdiction:** Massachusetts
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** MA Code / Part III / Title II / Chapter 233 / Section 8

## Text

Section 8. Witnesses may be summoned to attend and testify and to produce books and papers at a hearing before a city council, or either branch thereof, or before a joint or special committee of the same or of either branch thereof, or before a board of selectmen, a board of police commissioners, a fire commissioner or a board of fire commissioners, a commissioner of public safety, a school board, the alcoholic beverages control commission established by section forty-three of chapter six, a licensing board or licensing authorities, as defined in section one of chapter one hundred and thirty-eight, a board of registrars of voters, the police commissioner or election commissioners of Boston, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, the state racing commission, the parole board or a board of appeals designated or appointed under section thirty of chapter forty, as to matters within their authority; and such witnesses shall be summoned in the same manner, be paid the same fees and be subject to the same penalties for default, as witnesses in civil cases before the courts. The presiding officer of such council, or of either branch thereof, or a member of any such committee, board or commission, or any such commissioner, may administer oaths to witnesses who appear before such council, branch thereof, committee, board, commission or commissioner, respectively.

Section 8. Witnesses may be summoned to attend and testify and to produce books and papers at a hearing before a city council, or either branch thereof, or before a joint or special committee of the same or of either branch thereof, or before a board of selectmen, a board of police commissioners, a fire commissioner or a board of fire commissioners, a commissioner of public safety, a school board, the alcoholic beverages control commission established by section forty-three of chapter six, a licensing board or licensing authorities, as defined in section one of chapter one hundred and thirty-eight, a board of registrars of voters, the police commissioner or election commissioners of Boston, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, the state racing commission, the parole board or a board of appeals designated or appointed under section thirty of chapter forty, as to matters within their authority; and such witnesses shall be summoned in the same manner, be paid the same fees and be subject to the same penalties for default, as witnesses in civil cases before the courts. The presiding officer of such council, or of either branch thereof, or a member of any such committee, board or commission, or any such commissioner, may administer oaths to witnesses who appear before such council, branch thereof, committee, board, commission or commissioner, respectively.

## Nearby sections

- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 233, sec. 1 Issuance of summonses for witnesses](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIII_TII_C233_S1.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 233, sec. 2 Service of summons](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIII_TII_C233_S2.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 233, sec. 3 Witness fees; payment or tender](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIII_TII_C233_S3.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 233, sec. 3A Representation of commissioner of banks](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIII_TII_C233_S3A.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 233, sec. 4 Liability for nonattendance](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIII_TII_C233_S4.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 233, sec. 5 Penalty for nonattendance; contempt](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIII_TII_C233_S5.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 233, sec. 6 Warrant for nonattending witness](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIII_TII_C233_S6.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 233, sec. 7 Witnesses before executive council](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIII_TII_C233_S7.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 233, sec. 8 Bodies authorized to summon witnesses; oath](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIII_TII_C233_S8.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 233, sec. 9 Warrant for witness failing to attend before nonjudicial tribunal](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIII_TII_C233_S9.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 233, sec. 10 Enforcing attendance before nonjudicial tribunal](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIII_TII_C233_S10.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 233, sec. 11 Requiring testimony](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIII_TII_C233_S11.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 233, sec. 12 Summons for attendance at criminal trial outside state](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIII_TII_C233_S12.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 233, sec. 13 Penalty for nonattendance outside state](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIII_TII_C233_S13.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PIII_TII_C233_S8. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.