(a)  Except as provided in subsection (b), information and documents filed with or obtained by the director are public information and are available for public examination under the open records law of the state.

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Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 7-11-703

  • Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
  • in writing: include printing, engraving, lithographing, and photo-lithographing, and all other representations of words in letters of the usual form. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-16
  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.

(b)  The following information and documents do not constitute public information under subsection (a):

(1)  Information or documents obtained by the director in connection with an investigation under § 7-11-601; and

(2)  Information or documents filed with the director in connection with a registration statement under part III or a report under § 7-11-209, which constitute trade secrets or commercial or financial information of a person for which that person is entitled to and has asserted a claim of confidentiality or privilege authorized by law.

(c)  The director may disclose:

(1)  Information obtained in connection with an investigation under § 7-11-601(a) to the extent provided in § 7-11-601(b) subject to the restrictions of subsection (b)(2) of this section; and

(2)  Information obtained in connection with an investigation under § 7-11-601(a), if disclosure is for the purpose of a civil, administrative, or criminal investigation or proceeding by a securities agency, law enforcement agency, or administrator specified in § 7-11-704(a), and the receiving agency or administrator represents, in writing, that under the applicable law protections exist to preserve the integrity, confidentiality, and security of the information.

(d)  This chapter does not create any privilege or derogate any privilege existing at common law, by statute, rule, or otherwise.

History of Section.
P.L. 1990, ch. 460, § 2.