The commissioner, or any person he may appoint, shall have the power of visitation and examination into the affairs of any domestic society. He may employ assistants for the purpose of such examination, and he, or any person he may appoint, shall have free access to all the books, papers and documents that relate to the business of the society. The minutes of the proceedings of the supreme governing or legislative body and of the board of directors or corresponding body of a society shall be in the English language. In making any such examination the commissioner may summon and qualify as witnesses under oath and examine its officers, agents and employees or other persons in relation to the affairs, transactions and condition of the society. The report of the commissioner or in his discretion a summary thereof, and such recommendations or statements of the commissioner as may accompany such report, shall be read at the first meeting of the board of directors or corresponding body of the society following the receipt thereof, and if directed so to do by the commissioner shall also be read at the first meeting of the supreme legislative or governing body of the society following the receipt thereof. The expense of each examination and of each valuation, including compensation and actual expense of examiners, shall be paid by the society examined or whose certificates are valued, upon statements furnished by the commissioner.
(Amended by Stats. 1980, Ch. 209, Sec. 5.)