Missouri Revised Statutes Title XXXVIII. Crimes and Punishment; Peace Officers and Public Defenders § 570.410. Director of department of social services, attorney general--investigative powers--improper disclosure of information, penalty

1. For the purpose of any investigation or proceeding relating to public assistance unlawfully received or an application for public assistance unlawfully tendered, the director of the department of social services or any officer designated by him or her or the attorney general for the state of Missouri or any officer designated by him or her may administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance, take testimony, require answers to written interrogatories and require production of any books, papers, correspondence, memoranda, agreements or other documents or records which the director of the department or the attorney general deem relevant and material to the inquiry.

2. In the case of contumacy by, or refusal to obey a subpoena issued to, any person, the circuit court of any county of the state or the City of St. Louis, upon application by the department director or the attorney general may issue to the person an order requiring him or her to appear before the department director or the officer designated by him or her, or the attorney general or the officer designated by him or her, there to produce documentary evidence if so ordered or to give testimony or answer interrogatories touching the matter under investigation or in question in accordance with the forms and procedures otherwise authorized by the Rules of Civil Procedure. Failure to obey the order of the court may be punished by the court as a contempt of court.

3. Information or documents obtained under this section by the director of the department or the attorney general shall not be disclosed except in the course of civil or criminal litigation or to another prosecutorial or investigative agency, or to the divisions of the department.

4. The offense of improper disclosure under this section is a class A misdemeanor.

5. The provisions of this section do not repeal existing provisions of law and shall be construed as supplementary thereto.