26-2-508. Witnesses for state, county, or public defender -- advance payment not required. The attorney general, any county attorney, or any public defender, as defined in 47-1-103, is authorized to cause subpoenas to be issued and compel the attendance of witnesses without paying or tendering fees in advance to either officers or witnesses. A witness refusing to or failing to attend, after being served with a subpoena, may be proceeded against and is liable in the same manner as is provided by law in other cases where fees have been tendered or paid.