(a) Except as permitted by §§ 71-1-117 and 71-1-118, it is unlawful for any person, except for purposes directly connected with the administration of this part, to solicit, disclose, receive, make use of, authorize or knowingly permit, participate in, or acquiesce in the use of, any list or names of, or any information concerning, persons applying for or receiving old-age assistance, directly or indirectly derived from the records, papers, files, or communications of the department or divisions of the department, or acquired in the course of the performance of official duties.
(b) A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor.