Administration.

(1) This chapter shall be administered by the commissioner. The commissioner may employ officers, attorneys, accountants, and other employees as needed for administering this chapter.

(2) It is unlawful for the commissioner or any administrative staff to use for personal benefit any information which is filed with or obtained by the commissioner and which is not made public. This chapter does not authorize the commissioner or any staff member to disclose any such information except among themselves or to other cemetery and funeral administrators, regulatory authorities, or governmental agencies, or when necessary and appropriate in a proceeding or investigation under this chapter or as required by chapter 22. This chapter neither creates nor derogates any privileges that exist at common law or otherwise when documentary or other evidence is sought under a subpoena directed to the commissioner or any administrative staff.

(3) The commissioner shall submit an annual report to the general assembly’s standing committees on government oversight by October 1 of each year reporting on the administration of this chapter. The report shall set forth any recommendations for changes in the law that the commissioner deems necessary or desirable to prevent abuses or evasions of this chapter or rules implementing this chapter or to rectify undesirable conditions in connection with the administration of this chapter or rules implementing this chapter.

2005 Acts, ch 128, §9; 2006 Acts, ch 1030, §64; 2006 Acts, ch 1117, §120; 2007 Acts, ch 175, §36, 37; 2008 Acts, ch 1123, §55; 2009 Acts, ch 86, §6