(a) Upon written or oral request, the commissioner shall make available to any person the information specified in Section 6254.12 of the Government Code and made available through the Public Disclosure Program of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority with respect to any broker-dealer or agent licensed or regulated under this part. The commissioner shall also make available the current license status and the year of issuance of the license of a broker-dealer. Any information disclosed pursuant to this subdivision shall constitute a public record. Notwithstanding any other law, the commissioner may disclose either orally or in writing that information pursuant to this subdivision. There shall be no liability on the part of, and no cause of action of any nature shall arise against, the state, the Department of Business Oversight, the Commissioner of Business Oversight, or any officer, agent, or employee of the state or the Department of Business Oversight for the release of any false or unauthorized information, unless the release of that information was done with knowledge and malice.

(b) Any broker-dealer or agent licensed or regulated under this part shall, upon request, deliver a written notice to any client when a new account is opened stating that information about the license status or disciplinary record of a broker-dealer or an agent may be obtained from the Division of Corporations, or from any other source that provides substantially similar information.

(c) The notice provided under subdivision (b) shall contain the office location or telephone number where the information may be obtained.

(d) A broker-dealer or agent is exempt from providing the notice required under subdivision (b) if a person who does not have a financial relationship with the broker-dealer or agent, requests only general operational information such as the nature of the broker-dealer’s or agent’s business, office location, hours of operation, basic services, and fees, but does not solicit advice regarding investments or other services offered.

(e) Upon written or oral request, the commissioner shall make available to any person the disciplinary records maintained on the Investment Adviser Registration Depository and made available through the Investment Advisor Public Disclosure Internet Web site as to any investment adviser, investment adviser representative, or associated person of an investment adviser licensed or regulated under this part. The commissioner shall also make available the current license status and the year of issuance of the license of an investment adviser. Any information disclosed pursuant to this subdivision shall constitute a public record. Notwithstanding any other law, the commissioner may disclose that information either orally or in writing pursuant to this subdivision. There shall be no liability on the part of, and no cause of action of any nature shall arise against, the state, the Department of Business Oversight, the Commissioner of Business Oversight, or any officer, agent, or employee of the state or the Department of Business Oversight for the release of any false or unauthorized information, unless the release of that information was done with knowledge and malice.

(f) Section 461 of the Business and Professions Code shall not apply to the Division of Corporations when using a national, uniform application adopted or approved for use by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the North American Securities Administrators Association, or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority that is required for participation in the Central Registration Depository or the Investment Adviser Registration Depository.

(g) This section shall not require the disclosure of criminal history record information maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation pursuant to Section 534 of Title 28 of the United States Code, and the rules thereunder, or information not otherwise subject to disclosure under the Information Practices Act of 1977.

(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 86, Sec. 51. (SB 1171) Effective January 1, 2017.)