(a) Guaranty Corporation shall have independent authority to approve membership, or suspend or revoke the right to participate in Guaranty Corporation by any member for cause and to submit reports and make recommendations to the commissioner regarding the financial condition of any member and shall also do so if requested by the commissioner. These reports and recommendations shall not be public documents. There shall be no liability on the part of, and no cause of action of any nature shall arise against, Guaranty Corporation or its members, directors, officers, employees or agents, or the commissioner or his or her authorized representatives, for any statements made by them in any reports or recommendations made hereunder.

(b) In order to permit Guaranty Corporation to fulfill its obligations under subdivision (a), upon the written request of Guaranty Corporation the commissioner may furnish to Guaranty Corporation a copy of financial statements or reports filed by a member or an industrial loan company making application to participate in Guaranty Corporation and a copy of the commissioner’s analysis of an industrial loan company’s receivables. Except for reports filed under Sections 18407 and 18410, such statements and reports shall not be public documents, and the information contained therein shall be privileged, and confidential to Guaranty Corporation for its sole use in carrying out its statutory functions. There shall be no liability on the part of, and no cause of action of any nature shall arise against the State of California, the commissioner or members of the commissioner’s staff or the commissioner’s authorized representatives, for the release of any information furnished to Guaranty Corporation pursuant to this subdivision.

(c) By written consent of a majority of its directors, Guaranty Corporation, in order to fulfill its obligations under subdivision (a), may appoint an independent certified public accountant or public accountant to prepare an audit report containing audited financial statements, together with such other information as Guaranty Corporation, in good faith, requires regarding the financial condition of any member. For the purposes of examination and investigation the certified public accountant or public accountant appointed by Guaranty Corporation shall have free access to the offices and places of business, books, accounts, papers, records, files, safes and vaults of the member.

(d) By written consent of a majority of its directors, Guaranty Corporation, in order to fulfill its obligations under subdivision (a), may hire or appoint specialized committees or employees to investigate the operations of a member company. Guaranty Corporation may have its specialized employees or committees investigate the affairs and examine the books, accounts, records and files used in the business of the member. For the purposes of examination and investigation the specialized employees and committees of Guaranty Corporation shall have free access to the offices and places of business, books, accounts, papers, records, files, safes, and vaults of the member.

(e) Costs and expenses for such audit report or special investigation report shall be paid by Guaranty Corporation.

(f)  Any person who uses any information obtained under subdivision (b), (c) or (d) for any purpose not authorized by subdivision (a) is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(g) The powers granted to the Guaranty Corporation by this section may not be exercised in connection with special members.

(Amended by Stats. 1985, Ch. 142, Sec. 16. Effective July 1, 1985.)