(A)

(1) All records and other information obtained by the superintendent of insurance or the superintendent's deputies, examiners, assistants, or other employees, or agents relating to an investigation of an applicant for licensure under this chapter, or of an agent, solicitor, broker, or other person licensed or appointed under this chapter or Chapter 3951. or 3959. of the Revised Code, are confidential and are not public records as defined in section 149.43 of the Revised Code until the applicant, licensee, or appointee is provided notice and opportunity for hearing pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code with respect to such records or information. If no administrative action is initiated with respect to a particular matter about which the superintendent obtained records or other information as part of an investigation, all such records and information relating to that matter shall remain confidential for three years after the file on the matter is closed.

(2) Division (A)(1) of this section applies only to investigations that could result in administrative action under Title XVII or IX or Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

(B) The records and other information described in division (A) of this section shall remain confidential for all purposes except when it is appropriate for the superintendent and the superintendent's deputies, examiners, assistants, or other employees, or agents to take official action regarding the affairs of the applicant, licensee, or appointee or in connection with actual or potential criminal proceedings.

(C) Notwithstanding divisions (A) and (B) of this section, the superintendent may do either of the following:

(1) Share records and other information that are the subject of this section with the chief deputy rehabilitator, the chief deputy liquidator, other deputy rehabilitators and liquidators, and any other person employed by, or acting on behalf of, the superintendent pursuant to Chapter 3901. or 3903. of the Revised Code, with other local, state, federal, and international regulatory and law enforcement agencies, with local, state, and federal prosecutors, and with the national association of insurance commissioners and its affiliates and subsidiaries, provided that the recipient agrees to maintain the confidential status of the confidential record or other information and has authority to do so;

(2) Disclose records and other information that are the subject of this section in the furtherance of any regulatory or legal action brought by or on behalf of the superintendent or the state, resulting from the exercise of the superintendent's official duties.

(D) Notwithstanding divisions (A), (B), and (C) of this section, the superintendent may authorize the national association of insurance commissioners and its affiliates and subsidiaries by agreement to share confidential records and other information received pursuant to division (C)(1) of this section with local, state, federal, and international regulatory and law enforcement agencies and with local, state, and federal prosecutors, provided that the recipient agrees to maintain the confidential status of the confidential record or other information and has authority to do so.

(E) Notwithstanding divisions (A), (B), and (C) of this section, the chief deputy rehabilitator, the chief deputy liquidator, and other deputy rehabilitators and liquidators may disclose records and other information that are the subject of this section in the furtherance of any regulatory or legal action brought by or on behalf of the superintendent, the rehabilitator, the liquidator, or the state resulting from the exercise of the superintendent's official duties in any capacity.

(F) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the superintendent from receiving records and other information in accordance with section 3901.045 of the Revised Code.

(G)

(1) No waiver of any applicable privilege or claim of confidentiality in the records and other information that are the subject of this section shall occur as a result of sharing or receiving records or other information as authorized in divisions (C)(1), (D), and (F) of this section.

(2) The disclosure of records or other information in connection with a regulatory or legal action pursuant to divisions (C)(2) and (E) of this section does not prohibit an insurer or any other person from taking steps to limit the dissemination of the record or other information to persons not involved in or the subject of the regulatory or legal action on the basis of any recognized privilege arising under any other section of the Revised Code or the common law.

(H) Employees or agents of the department of insurance shall not be required by any court in this state to testify in a civil action, if the testimony concerns any matter related to records or other information considered confidential under this section of which they have knowledge.

Effective Date: 08-06-2004 .