In connection with any investigation or action authorized by this article, the department head may do any of the following:

(a) Inspect and copy books, records, and other items described in subdivision (e).

(b) Hear complaints.

(c) Administer oaths.

(d) Certify to all official acts.

(e) Issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses and the production of papers, books, accounts, documents, any writing as defined by Section 250 of the Evidence Code, tangible things, and testimony pertinent or material to any inquiry, investigation, hearing, proceeding, or action conducted in any part of the state.

(f) Promulgate interrogatories pertinent or material to any inquiry, investigation, hearing, proceeding, or action.

(g) Divulge information or evidence related to the investigation of unlawful activity discovered from interrogatory answers, papers, books, accounts, documents, and any other item described in subdivision (e), or testimony, to the Attorney General or to any prosecuting attorney of this state, any other state, or the United States who has a responsibility for investigating the unlawful activity investigated or discovered, or to any governmental agency responsible for enforcing laws related to the unlawful activity investigated or discovered, if the Attorney General, prosecuting attorney, or agency to which the information or evidence is divulged agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the information received to the extent required by this article.

(h) Present information or evidence obtained or developed from the investigation of unlawful activity to a court or at an administrative hearing in connection with any action or proceeding.

(Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 876, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 2004.)