(a) In addition to any other authority allowed under this title, the Commissioner shall have the authority to conduct investigations and examinations as follows:

(1) For purposes of initial licensing, license renewal, license suspension, license conditioning, license revocation or termination, public reprimand, or general or specific inquiry or investigation to determine compliance with this chapter, the Commissioner shall have the authority to access, receive and use any books, accounts, records, files, documents, information or evidence including but not limited to:

a. Criminal, civil and administrative history information, including nonconviction data as specified in Title 11; and

b. Personal history and experience information including independent credit reports obtained from a consumer reporting agency described in § 603(p) of the United States Fair Credit Reporting Act [15 U.S.C. § 1681a(p)]; and

c. Any other documents, information or evidence the Commissioner deems relevant to the inquiry or investigation regardless of the location, possession, control or custody of such documents, information or evidence.

(2) For the purposes of investigating violations or complaints arising under this chapter, or for the purposes of examination, the Commissioner may review, investigate, or examine any person subject to this chapter, as often as necessary in order to carry out the purposes of this chapter. The Commissioner may also direct, subpoena, or order the attendance of and examine under oath, all persons whose testimony may be required about the loans or the business or subject matter of any such examination or investigation, and may direct, subpoena, or order such person to produce books, accounts, records, files, and any other documents the Commissioner deems relevant to the inquiry.

(3) Each person subject to this chapter shall make available to the Commissioner upon request all books and records relating to such person’s business operations.

(4) The Commissioner shall have access to all books and records of any licensee under Chapter 21 or 22 of this title and may interview such licensee’s officers, principals, mortgage loan originators, employees, independent contractors, agents, and customers concerning the business operations of any person subject to this chapter.

(5) Each person subject to this chapter shall make or compile reports or prepare other information as directed by the Commissioner in order to carry out the purposes of this section including but not limited to:

a. Accounting compilations;

b. Information lists and data concerning loan transactions in a format prescribed by the Commissioner; or

c. Such other information deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

(6) In making any examination or investigation authorized by this chapter, the Commissioner may control access to any documents and records of the person under examination or investigation. The Commissioner may take possession of the documents and records or place a person in exclusive charge of the documents and records in the place where they are usually kept. During the period of control, no person shall remove or attempt to remove any of the documents and records except pursuant to a court order or with the consent of the Commissioner. Unless the Commissioner has reasonable grounds to believe the documents or records of the person subject to this chapter have been, or are at risk of being altered or destroyed for purposes of concealing a violation of this chapter, the person subject to this chapter or the owner of the documents and records shall have access to the documents or records as necessary to conduct its ordinary business affairs.

(b) In order to carry out the purposes of this section, the Commissioner may:

(1) Retain attorneys, accountants, or other professionals and specialists as examiners, auditors, or investigators to conduct or assist in the conduct of examinations or investigations;

(2) Enter into agreements or relationships with other government officials or regulatory associations in order to improve efficiencies and reduce regulatory burden by sharing resources, standardized or uniform methods or procedures, and documents, records, information or evidence obtained under this section;

(3) Use, hire, contract or employ public or privately available analytical systems, methods or software to examine or investigate the person subject to this chapter;

(4) Accept and rely on examination or investigation reports made by other government officials, within or without this State;

(5) Accept audit reports made by an independent certified public accountant for the person subject to this chapter in the course of that part of the examination covering the same general subject matter as the audit and may incorporate the audit report in the report of the examination, report of investigation or other writing of the Commissioner; and

(6) Assess persons who are subject to investigation or examination under this section the cost of the services described in this subsection (b) and all other costs or expenses incurred as part of that investigation or examination.

(c) The authority of this section shall remain in effect, whether a person subject to this chapter acts or claims to act under any licensing or registration law of this State, or claims to act without such authority.

(d) No person subject to investigation or examination under this section may knowingly withhold, abstract, remove, mutilate, destroy, or secrete any books, records, computer records, or other information.

77 Del. Laws, c. 96, § 1.