172. Every State association and every out-of-State association with a branch office in this State shall be subject to the examination, inspection and supervision of the department. When deemed advisable, the examiner shall verify the liabilities of the State association to its members by an inspection and verification of their accounts. The commissioner shall promptly communicate the result of every examination to the president of the State association examined, who shall present the same to the board at the next regular meeting, or a special meeting, if deemed advisable, or if so directed by the commissioner. The action taken thereon by the board shall thereupon be promptly communicated by the president to the commissioner.

Every report and copy of a report of examination of a State association and out-of-State association made by or under the supervision of the commissioner, shall be confidential, and shall not be made public by any officer, director or employee of a State association or out-of-State association, and shall not be subject to subpoena or to admission into evidence in any action or proceeding in any court, except pursuant to an order of the court made upon notice to the commissioner an opportunity to advise the court of reasons for excluding from evidence such report or any portion thereof. The court shall order the issuance of a subpoena for the production or admission into evidence of any such report or portion thereof, only if it is satisfied that (1) it is material and relevant to the issues in the proceedings, and (2) the ends of justice and public advantage will be subserved thereby. This section shall not apply to any action or proceeding instituted by the commissioner or Attorney General pursuant to any law of this State.

For State associations or out-of-State associations with branch offices in this State and also in one or more other states, the commissioner may contract with the state regulator in the other state or states where branch offices are located to conduct cooperative examinations. Pursuant to those agreements, examiners of the department may examine branch offices of State associations and out-of-State associations in New Jersey and in other states, and examiners of other state regulators may examine branch offices of State associations and out-of-State associations in New Jersey and other states. The fees for these examinations may be shared pursuant to a contract or agreement among the regulators.

L.1963,c.144,s.172; amended 1996, c.17, s.95; 2007, c.81, s.12.