(a) The Parole Board shall adopt an official seal of which the courts shall take judicial notice.

(b) The board shall keep a record of its acts and shall notify each institution and facility of its decisions relating to persons who have been confined therein.

(c)

(1) An annual report in writing shall be made by the board on or before February 1 of each year for the preceding year.

(2) The report shall be directed to the Governor and to the General Assembly and shall contain statistical and other data concerning its work, including research studies which it may make on parole or related functions.

(d)

(1) A presentence report, a preparole report, and a supervision history obtained in the discharge of official duty by any member or employee of the board shall be privileged and shall not be disclosed, directly or indirectly, to any person other than the board, a court, others entitled under this chapter to receive the information, or as required under § 16-93-213.

(2) However, the board or a court, at its discretion, may permit the inspection of the presentence report, preparole report, or supervision history by a person having a proper interest in the presentence report, preparole report, or supervision history if the interests or welfare of the person involved makes that action desirable or helpful.

(e) (1) (A) Upon written request, a member of the General Assembly or an employee of the House of Representatives, the Senate, or the Bureau of Legislative Research acting on the member's behalf may view all classification, disciplinary, demographic, and parole hearing records of a current or former inmate or parolee who is currently or was formerly granted parole by the board.

(B) A request made on behalf of a member of the General Assembly shall be made in good faith.

(2) A view of records under subdivision (e)(1) of this section by an employee may be performed only if the employee is assigned to one (1) or more of the following committees:

(A) Senate Committee on Judiciary;

(B) House Committee on Judiciary; or

(C) Charitable, Penal and Correctional Institutions Subcommittee of the Legislative Council.

(3) The board shall ensure that the employee authorized under subdivision (e)(2) of this section to view records is provided access to the records.

(4) A record requested to be viewed under subdivision (e)(1) of this section is privileged and confidential and shall not be shown to any person not authorized to have access to the record under this section and shall not be used for any political purpose, including without limitation political advertising, fundraising, or campaigning.