(a) For the purpose of initial licensing, license renewal, license suspension, license conditioning, license revocation, license termination, or general or specific inquiry or investigation to determine compliance with this chapter, including compliance by a registered depository institution, the department may access, receive, use, and copy any books, accounts, records, files, documents, information, or evidence, including

(1) criminal, civil, and administrative history information, including nonconviction information; in this paragraph, “nonconviction information” has the meaning given in AS 12.62.900;

(2) personal history and experience information, including independent credit reports obtained from a consumer reporting agency; and

(3) other documents, information, and evidence the department considers relevant to the inquiry or investigation, regardless of the location, possession, or custody of the documents, information, or evidence.

(b) Notwithstanding AS 06.01.015, for the purpose of investigating violations or complaints arising under this chapter, or for the purpose of examination, the department may review, investigate, or examine an applicant, licensee, or another person subject to this chapter as often as necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter. The department may conduct an examination without prior notice to the licensee.

(c) A licensee or other person subject to this chapter shall make available to the department, on request, the place of business, books, records, accounts, safes, and vaults relating to the operations of the licensee or other person subject to this chapter. The department may interview the officers, principals, mortgage loan originators, employees, independent contractors, agents, and customers of the licensee or other person subject to this chapter concerning the licensee's or other person's business.

(d) For the purpose of hearings, investigations, or other proceedings under this chapter, the department or an officer designated by the department may administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena witnesses, compel the attendance of witnesses, take evidence, and require the production of books, papers, correspondence, memoranda, agreements, or other documents or records that the department considers relevant or material to the matter.

(e) If a person refuses to comply with a subpoena, the superior court, on application by the department, may issue to the person an order requiring the person to appear before the department to produce documentary evidence or to give evidence regarding the matter under investigation or in question.

(f) A licensee or other person subject to this chapter shall make or compile reports or prepare other information as directed by the department to carry out the purposes of this section, including

(1) accounting compilations;

(2) information lists and data concerning loan transactions in a format prescribed by the department; and

(3) other information considered necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

(g) In making an examination or investigation authorized by this chapter, the department may control access to documents and records of the licensee or other person under examination or investigation. The department may take possession of the documents and records or place a person in exclusive charge of the documents and records in the place where they are usually kept. During the period of control, a person may not remove or attempt to remove any of the documents and records except under a court order or with the consent of the department. In this subsection, “control” does not have the meaning given in AS 06.60.990.

(h) To carry out the purposes of this section, the department may

(1) retain attorneys, accountants, or other professionals and specialists, including examiners, auditors, or investigators, to conduct or assist in the conduct of examinations or investigations;

(2) enter into agreements or relationships with other government officials or regulatory associations to improve efficiency and reduce the regulatory burden by sharing resources, standardized or uniform methods or procedures, and documents, records, information, and evidence obtained under this section;

(3) use, hire, contract, or employ public or privately available analytical systems, methods, or electronic software to examine or investigate the licensee, individual, or other person subject to this chapter;

(4) accept and rely on examination or investigation reports made by other government officials in this or another state;

(5) share information received or collected during an examination, investigation, or other proceeding with other law enforcement agencies; or

(6) accept an audit report prepared by an independent certified public accountant for the licensee or other person subject to this chapter and may incorporate an audit report in the report of the examination or other writing of the department.

(i) The authority under this section remains in effect, whether or not a licensee or other person subject to this chapter acts or claims to act under a licensing or registration law of the state or claims to act without the authority of a licensing or registration law of the state.

(j) A licensee or other person subject to investigation or examination under this section may not knowingly withhold, abstract, remove, mutilate, destroy, or secrete any books, records, computer records, or other information.

(k) A person shall reimburse the department for reasonable costs incurred by the department to conduct an examination or investigation under this section. The reimbursement under this subsection may not exceed the rate of $75 an hour for the examination or investigation, plus travel costs, including a per diem allowance that does not exceed the per diem allowance for employees of the state under AS 39.20.110.

(l) In this section, “person” and “person subject to this chapter” include a registered depository institution.