Subdivision 1. Generally. This chapter shall be administered by the commissioner of commerce.

Subd. 2. Department responsibilities. It is unlawful for the commissioner or any of the commissioner's officers or employees to use for personal benefit any information which is filed with or obtained by the commissioner and which is not generally available to the public. Nothing in this chapter authorizes the commissioner or any of the commissioner's officers or employees to disclose any confidential information except among themselves or to other administrators or regulatory authorities, or when necessary or appropriate in a proceeding or investigation under this chapter. No provision of this chapter either creates any privilege or derogates from any privilege which exists at common law or otherwise when documentary or other evidence is sought under a subpoena directed to the commissioner or any of the commissioner's officers or employees.

Subd. 3. Public documents. All applications and other documents filed with the commissioner under this chapter shall be open to public inspection in accordance with rules prescribed by the commissioner. The commissioner may publish information filed with the commissioner or obtained by the commissioner if, in the judgment of the commissioner, the action is in the public interest.

Subd. 4. Document filing. A document is filed when it is received by the commissioner.

Subd. 5. [Repealed, 2014 c 222 art 1 s 58]

Subd. 6. Copies. The commissioner upon request shall furnish to any person at a reasonable charge photostatic or other copies, certified under the seal of office if certification is requested, of any entry in the register or any order or other document on file in the commissioner's office. Any copy so certified is admissible in evidence under section 600.13.

Subd. 7. Service of orders. Orders of the commissioner shall be served by mailing a copy by certified mail to the most recent address of the recipient of the order as it appears in the files of the commissioner. Subpoenas shall be served in the same manner as provided in civil actions in the district courts.

History: 1985 c 129 s 24; 1986 c 444; 1987 c 154 s 8,9