Keeping insurance records and protecting confidential information

(a) The commissioner shall preserve in permanent form records and reports of the commissioner's proceedings, hearings, investigations, and examinations and shall file the records in the commissioner's office. (b) The commissioner's records and filings in the commissioner's office shall be open to public inspection, except as otherwise provided in this chapter. (c) The commissioner shall maintain the confidentiality of any documents or information received from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the federal government, insurance regulatory agencies of foreign countries, or insurance departments of other states, territories, and commonwealths that are confidential in the jurisdiction of origin. Documents and records subject to this subsection shall be confidential and privileged, shall not be made public, shall not be subject to subpoena or discovery, and shall not be admissible as evidence in any private civil action, and neither the commissioner nor any other person who received documents, materials, or other information subject to this subsection while acting under the authority of the commissioner shall be permitted or required to testify in any private civil action concerning any confidential documents, materials, or information subject to this subsection. This subsection shall not be construed to limit the commissioner's authority to use any necessary documents, materials, or other information in furtherance of any regulatory or legal action brought as part of the commissioner's official duties. The commissioner may share information, including otherwise confidential information, with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the federal government, insurance regulatory agencies of foreign countries, or insurance departments of other states, territories, and commonwealths if the statutes or regulations of the jurisdiction receiving the information require the receiving person or entity to maintain the same level of confidentiality as required under this subsection and other applicable law. (d) The commissioner shall not disclose any information that is protected from disclosure by law other than as provided in subsection (c).