§ 66. Confidentiality of proceedings and records. 1. All communications to the commission, and its proceedings, and all applications, correspondence, interviews, transcripts, reports and all other papers, files and records of the commission shall be confidential and privileged and, except for the purposes of article two hundred ten of the penal law, shall not be made available to any person except as otherwise provided in this article.

2. The governor shall have access to all papers and information relating to persons recommended to him by the commission. The senate shall have access to all papers and information relating to the person appointed by the governor to fill a vacancy. All information that is not publicly disclosed in accordance with subdivisions three and four of section sixty-three of this article, or disclosed in connection with the senate's confirmation of the appointment, shall remain confidential and privileged, except for the purposes of article two hundred ten of the penal law.

3. Neither the members of the commission nor its staff shall publicly divulge the names of, or any information concerning, any candidate except as otherwise provided in this article.