Section 7-1-684.1. Examination of books and records of licensee; fees; on-site examination; authority of commissioner; investigations; other powers of department; failure to respond to subpoena; confidentiality; liability

   (a) To assure compliance with the provisions of this article and in consideration of any application to renew a license pursuant to the provisions of Code Section 7-1-685, the department or its designated agent may examine the books and records of any licensee to the same extent as it is authorized to examine financial institutions under this chapter. Each licensee shall pay an examination fee as established by regulations of the department to cover the cost of such examination. The on-site examination may be conducted in conjunction with examinations to be performed by representatives of agencies of another state. The commissioner, in lieu of an on-site examination, may accept the examination report of an agency of another state or a report prepared by an independent accounting firm and reports so accepted shall be considered for all purposes as an official report of the commissioner. If the department determines, based on the records submitted to the department and past history of operations in the state, that an on-site examination is unnecessary then the on-site examination may be waived by the department.

(b) The commissioner may:

   (1) Request financial data from a licensee in addition to that required under this article; and

   (2) Conduct an on-site examination of a licensee, agent, or location of a licensee within this state without prior notice to the agent or licensee if the commissioner has a reasonable basis to believe that the licensee or agent is not in compliance with this article. The agent or licensee shall pay all reasonably incurred costs of the examination when the commissioner examines an agent's operations.

(c) The department, in its discretion, may:

   (1) Make such public or private investigations within or outside of this state as it deems necessary to determine whether any person has violated this article or any rule, regulation, or order under this article, to aid in the enforcement of this article, or to assist in the prescribing of rules and regulations pursuant to this article;

   (2) Require or permit any person to file a statement in writing, under oath or otherwise as the department determines, as to all the facts and circumstances concerning the matter to be investigated;

   (3) Disclose information concerning any violation of this article or any rule, regulation, or order under this article, provided the information is derived from a final order of the department; and

   (4) Disclose the imposition of an administrative fine or penalty under this article.

(d) (1) For the purpose of conducting any investigation as provided in this Code section, the department shall have the power to administer oaths, to call any party to testify under oath in the course of such investigations, to require the attendance of witnesses, to require the production of books, records, and papers, and to take the depositions of witnesses; and for such purposes the department is authorized to issue a subpoena for any witness or for the production of documentary evidence. Such subpoenas may be served by certified mail or statutory overnight delivery, return receipt requested, to the addressee's business mailing address, by examiners appointed by the department, or shall be directed for service to the sheriff of the county where such witness resides or is found or where the person in custody of any books, records, or paper resides or is found. The required fees and mileage of the sheriff, witness, or person shall be paid from the funds in the state treasury for the use of the department in the same manner that other expenses of the department are paid.

   (2) The department may issue and apply to enforce subpoenas in this state at the request of a government agency regulating sellers of checks or money transmitters of another state if the activities constituting the alleged violation for which the information is sought would be a violation of this article if the activities had occurred in this state.

(e) In case of refusal to obey a subpoena issued under this article to any person, a superior court of appropriate jurisdiction, upon application by the department, may issue to the person an order requiring him or her to appear before the court to show cause why he or she should not be held in contempt for refusal to obey the subpoena. Failure to obey a subpoena may be punished as contempt by the court.

(f) Examinations and investigations conducted under this article and information obtained by the department in the course of its duties under this article are confidential, except as provided in this subsection, pursuant to the provisions of Code Section 7-1-70. In addition to the exceptions set forth in subsection (b) of Code Section 7-1-70, the department is authorized to share information obtained under this article with other state and federal regulatory agencies or law enforcement authorities. In the case of such sharing, the safeguards to confidentiality already in place within such agencies or authorities shall be deemed adequate. The commissioner or an examiner specifically designated may disclose such limited information as is necessary to conduct a civil or administrative investigation or proceeding. Information contained in the records of the department which is not confidential and may be made available to the public either on the department's website or upon receipt by the department of a written request shall include:

   (1) The name, business address, and telephone, facsimile, and license numbers of a licensee or registrant;

   (2) The names and titles of the principal officers;

   (3) The name of the owner or owners thereof;

   (4) The business address of a licensee's or registrant's agent for service;

   (5) The terms of or a copy of any bond filed by a licensee or registrant; and

   (6) The name, business address, telephone number, and facsimile number of all agents of a licensee.

(g) In the absence of malice, fraud, or bad faith, a person is not subject to civil liability arising from the filing of a complaint with the department or furnishing other information required by this Code section or required by the department under the authority granted in this article. No civil cause of action of any nature shall arise against such person:

   (1) For any information relating to suspected prohibited transactions furnished to or received from law enforcement officials, their agents, or employees or to or from other regulatory or licensing authorities;

   (2) For any such information furnished to or received from other persons subject to the provisions of this title; or

   (3) For any such information furnished in complaints filed with the department.

(h) The commissioner or any employee or agent is not subject to civil liability, and no civil cause of action of any nature exists against such persons arising out of the performance of activities or duties under this article or by publication of any report of activities under this Code section.

Code 1981, § 7-1-684.1, enacted by Ga. L. 2003, p. 843, § 13; Ga. L. 2009, p. 86, § 8/HB 141; Ga. L. 2010, p. 878, § 7/HB 1387.