(a) The California State Auditor, and any employee or former employee of the office, shall not divulge or make known to any person not employed by the office in any manner not expressly permitted by law any particulars of any record, document, or information the disclosure of which is restricted by law from release to the public. This prohibition includes, but is not limited to, the restrictions on the release of records, documents, or information set forth in Section 8545.
(b) Subdivision (a) also applies to either of the following:
(1) Any person or business entity that is contracting with or has contracted with the office and to the employees and former employees of that person or business entity.
(2) The officers and employees of and any person or business entity that is contracting with or has contracted with any state or local governmental agency or publicly created entity that has assisted the office in the course of any audit or investigation or that has received a draft copy of any report or other draft document from the office for comment or review.
(c) Any officer, employee, or person who discloses the particulars of any record, document, or other information in violation of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 281, Sec. 20. (SB 1395) Effective January 1, 2013.)