Board powers for licenses and sharing discipline records

(a) In addition to any other powers conferred by law, the boards shall have the following powers: (1) To establish by rule an inactive license category for those not currently practicing in the State, including the procedure and conditions for activation of the license; (2) To establish by rule a retired license category including the procedure and conditions for activation of the license. (b) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the boards and the department may communicate or cooperate with any federal, state, or county licensing board or agency, or any other federal, state, or county agency which is investigating an applicant or a licensee, on matters pertaining to the professional qualifications or fitness of the applicant or licensee. All disciplinary actions taken by the boards, including license denials, shall be matters of public record and be promptly reported by the board to any central disciplinary data bank or clearinghouse in the United States, to the state professional societies, to the state hospital association, and, upon request, to any health care facility. Voluntary surrender of, and voluntary limitations on, the license of any person shall be a matter of public record and shall be reported to the disciplinary [data] banks or clearinghouses, to the state professional societies, to the state hospital association, and, upon request, to any health care facility in the State.