2006 New York Code - Powers Of Referee.

 
    §  356.  Powers  of referee. The referee appointed as provided in this
  article possesses all the powers and is subject to all the duties  of  a
  referee  appointed  in  a  civil  action, so far as practicable, and may
  punish for contempt a witness duly served with the papers as  prescribed
  in  this article for non-attendance or refusal to be sworn or to testify
  or to produce books, papers and documents according to the direction  of
  the  endorsement aforesaid, in the same manner and to the same extent as
  a referee to hear, try and determine an issue of fact or of law.