(a) Notwithstanding any other law, the Inspector General during regular business hours or at any other time determined necessary by the Inspector General, shall have access to and authority to examine and reproduce any and all books, accounts, reports, vouchers, correspondence files, documents, and other records, and to examine the bank accounts, money, or other property of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in connection with duties authorized by this chapter. Any officer or employee of any agency or entity having these records or property in their possession or under their control shall permit access to, and examination and reproduction thereof consistent with the provisions of this section, upon the request of the Inspector General or the Inspector General’s authorized representative.

(b) In connection with duties authorized by this chapter, the Inspector General or the Inspector General’s authorized representative shall have access to the records and property of any public or private entity or person subject to review or regulation by the public agency or public entity to the same extent that employees or officers of that agency or public entity have access. No provision of law, memorandum of understanding, or any other agreement entered into between the employing entity and the employee or the employee’s representative providing for the confidentiality or privilege of any records or property shall prevent disclosure pursuant to subdivision (a). Access, examination, and reproduction consistent with the provisions of this section shall not result in the waiver of any confidentiality or privilege regarding any records or property.

(c) Any officer or person who fails or refuses to permit access, examination, or reproduction, as required by this section, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(d) The Inspector General may require any employee of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to be interviewed on a confidential basis. Any employee requested to be interviewed shall comply and shall have time afforded by the appointing authority for the purpose of an interview with the Inspector General or the Inspector General’s designee. The Inspector General shall have the discretion to redact the name or other identifying information of any person interviewed from any public report issued by the Inspector General, where required by law or where the failure to redact the information may hinder prosecution or an action in a criminal, civil, or administrative proceeding, or where the Inspector General determines that disclosure of the information is not in the interests of justice. It is not the purpose of these communications to address disciplinary action or grievance procedures that may routinely occur. When conducting an investigation into allegations that an employee of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation engaged in misconduct, the Inspector General shall comply with Sections 3303, 3307, 3307.5, 3308, 3309, and subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive, of Section 3309.5 of the Government Code, except that the Inspector General shall not be subject to the provisions of any memorandum of understanding or other agreement entered into between the employing entity and the employee or the employee’s representative that is in conflict with, or adds to the requirements of, Sections 3303, 3307, 3307.5, 3308, 3309, and subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive, of Section 3309.5 of the Government Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 364, Sec. 15. (SB 112) Effective September 27, 2019.)