(1) Information and records of the commission enumerated by this section are confidential and may not be disclosed except pursuant to a court order. No person may by subpoena, discovery, or statutory authority obtain such information or records. Information and records considered confidential include:
Tax returns of individual licensees;
Credit reports and security reports and procedures of applicants for licenses and otherpersons seeking or doing business with the commission;
Audit work papers, worksheets, and auditing procedures used by the commission, itsagents, or employees; and
Investigative reports concerning violations of law or concerning the backgrounds oflicensees, applicants, or other persons prepared by division investigators or investigators from other agencies working with the commission and any work papers related to the reports; except that the commission may in its sole discretion disclose so much of the reports or work papers as it deems necessary and prudent.
This section does not apply to requests for such information or records from thegovernor, attorney general, state auditor, any of the respective district attorneys of this state, or any federal or state law enforcement agency, or for the use of such information or records by the executive director, director, or commission for official purposes, or by employees of the division of gaming or the department in the performance of their authorized and official duties.
This section may not be construed to make confidential the aggregate tax collectionsduring any reporting period, the names and businesses of licensees, or figures showing the aggregate amount of money bet during any reporting period.
(a) Any person who discloses confidential records or information in violation of the provisions of this section commits a class 1 misdemeanor and shall be punished as provided in section 18-1.3-501. Any criminal prosecution pursuant to the provisions of this section must be brought within five years from the date the violation occurred.
If the person who violates this section is an officer or employee of the state, in addition to any other penalties or sanctions, the person shall be subject to dismissal if the procedures in section 24-50-125 are followed.
If the person violating the provisions is a present employee or officer of the state whoobtained the confidential records or information during their employment, then in any civil action, the subject of which includes the release of such confidential records or information, the person shall be liable for treble damages to any injured party.
If the person violating the provisions is a former employee or officer of the state whoobtained the confidential records or information during his or her employment, and if the person executed a written statement with the state agreeing to be held to the confidentiality standards expressed in this subsection (4), then in any civil action, the subject of which includes the release of the records or information after leaving state employment, the former employee or officer shall be liable for treble damages to any injured party.
Source: L. 2018: Entire article added with relocations, (SB 18-034), ch. 14, p. 194, § 2, effective October 1.
Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 12-47.1-527 as it existed prior to 2018.