15. a. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, all information or reports obtained by the department from an applicant, licensee or authorized delegate, whether obtained through reports, applications, examinations, audits, investigations, or otherwise, including, but not limited to: (1) all information contained in or related to examination, investigation, operating, or condition reports prepared by, on behalf of, or for the use of the department; or (2) financial statements, balance sheets, or authorized delegate information, are confidential and may not be disclosed or distributed outside the department by the commissioner or any officer or employee of the department. The commissioner, however, may provide for the release of information to representatives of state or federal agencies and foreign countries having regulatory or supervisory authority over the activities of the licensee or similar licensees if those representatives, upon request of the commissioner, disclose similar information respecting those licensees under their regulation or supervision, or to those representatives who state in writing under oath that they shall maintain the confidentiality of that information.

b. The commissioner may:

(1) Disclose the fact of filing of applications with the department pursuant to this act, give notice of a hearing, if any, regarding those applications, and announce his action thereon;

(2) Disclose final decisions in connection with proceedings for the suspension or revocation of licenses issued pursuant to this act;

(3) Prepare and circulate reports reflecting the assets and liabilities of money transmitters in general, including other information considered pertinent to the purpose of each report for general statistical information; and

(4) Prepare and circulate reports as provided by law.

c. Every official report of the department is prima facie evidence of the facts therein stated in any action or proceeding wherein the commissioner is a party.

d. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the disclosure of information that is admissible in evidence in any civil or criminal proceeding brought by or at the request of the commissioner or this State to enforce or prosecute violations of this act or the rules, regulations or orders issued or promulgated pursuant to this act.

L.1998,c.14,s.15.