(a) Upon written request to an insurer by an authorized governmental agency, an insurer or agent authorized by that insurer to act on behalf of the insurer, shall release to the requesting authorized governmental agency any or all relevant information deemed important to the authorized governmental agency that the insurer may possess relating to any specific motor vehicle theft or motor vehicle insurance fraud. Relevant information may include, but is not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Insurance policy information relevant to the motor vehicle theft or motor vehicle insurance fraud under investigation, including, but not limited to, any application for a policy.

(2) Policy premium payment records that are available.

(3) History of previous claims made by the insured.

(4) Information relating to the investigation of the motor vehicle theft or motor vehicle insurance fraud, including statements of any person, proof of loss, and notice of loss.

(b) (1) When an insurer knows or reasonably believes it knows the identity of a person whom it has reason to believe committed a criminal or fraudulent act relating to a motor vehicle theft or motor vehicle insurance claim or has knowledge of the criminal or fraudulent act that is reasonably believed not to have been reported to an authorized governmental agency, then, for the purpose of notification and investigation, the insurer, or an agent authorized by an insurer to act on its behalf, shall notify the local police department, sheriff’s office, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, or district attorney’s office, and may notify any other authorized governmental agency of that knowledge or reasonable belief and provide any additional information in accordance with subdivision (a).

(2) When an insurer provides the local police department, sheriff’s office, Department of the California Highway Patrol, or district attorney’s office with notice pursuant to this section, it shall be deemed sufficient notice to all authorized governmental agencies for the purpose of this chapter. Nothing in this section shall relieve an insurer of its obligations under Section 1872.4.

(3) Nothing in this subdivision shall abrogate or impair the rights or powers created under subdivision (a).

(c) The authorized governmental agency provided with information pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b) may release or provide that information to any other authorized governmental agency.

(d) An authorized governmental agency shall notify the affected insurer in writing when it has reason to believe that a fraudulent act relating to a motor vehicle theft or motor vehicle insurance claim has been committed. The agency shall provide this notice within a reasonable time, not to exceed 30 days. The agency may also release more specific information pursuant to this section when it determines that an ongoing investigation would not be jeopardized. The agency may require a fee from the insurer equal to the cost of providing the notice or the information specified in this section.

(e) An insurer providing information to an authorized agency pursuant to this section shall provide the information within a reasonable time, but not to exceed 30 days from the day on which the duty arose.

(Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 538, Sec. 461. Effective January 1, 2007.)