(a) The commissioner may do the following, at his or her discretion:

(1) Make public or private investigations within or outside of this state necessary to determine whether any person has violated, or is about to violate, any provision of this division or any rule or order promulgated pursuant to this division, or to aid in the enforcement of the law.

(2) Make public any information concerning any violation of this division or any rule or order promulgated pursuant to this division.

(b) For the purpose of any investigation or proceeding under this section, the commissioner or any officer designated by the commissioner may administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance, take evidence, and require the production of any books, papers, correspondence, memoranda, agreements, or other documents or records the commissioner deems relevant or material to the inquiry.

(c) In case of refusal to obey a subpoena issued to a person, the superior court may upon application by the commissioner issue to the person an order requiring the person to appear before the commissioner, or an officer designated by the commissioner, and produce documentary evidence, if so ordered, or to give evidence touching the matter under investigation or in question. Failure to obey the order of the court may be punished by the court as a contempt.

(d) No person is excused from attending or testifying, or from producing any document or record, before the commissioner or in obedience of a subpoena of the commissioner, or any officer designated by the commissioner, or in any proceeding instituted by the commissioner, on the ground that the testimony or evidence required of the person may incriminate the person or subject the person to a penalty or forfeiture. However, after validly claiming the privilege against self-incrimination, no individual may be prosecuted or subjected to any penalty or forfeiture for, or on account of, any transaction, matter, or thing for which the person is compelled to testify or produce pursuant to this section, except that the individual testifying is not exempt from prosecution and punishment for perjury or contempt committed in testifying.

(e) The cost of any review, examination, audit, or investigation made by the commissioner under this section shall be paid to the commissioner by the person subject to the review, examination, audit, or investigation, and the commissioner may maintain an action for the recovery of these costs in any court of competent jurisdiction. In determining the cost, the commissioner may use the actual amount of the salary or other compensation paid to the persons making the review, examination, audit, or investigation plus the actual amount of expenses, including overhead reasonably incurred in the performance of the work.

(Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 779, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 2003.)