Section 55.302 - Confidentiality of Examination, Investigation, and Inspection Information(a) Purpose. This section clarifies and establishes requirements related to the confidentiality of information obtained by SML during an examination, investigation, or inspection, as provided by Finance Code §157.021.(b) Confidential Information. All information obtained by SML during an examination, investigation, or inspection is confidential and cannot be released except as required or expressly permitted by law. The Finance Commission of Texas and the Commissioner have determined that the following information is confidential under Finance Code §156.301 (list is not exhaustive): (1) any documents, data, data compilations, work papers, notes, memoranda, summaries, recordings, or other information, in whatever form or medium, obtained, compiled, or created during an examination, investigation, or inspection;(2) information that is derived from or is the product of the confidential information described by paragraph (1) of this subsection, including any reports or other information chronicling or summarizing the results, conclusions, or other findings of an examination, investigation, or inspection, including assertions of any violations, deficiencies, or issues identified, or any directives, mandates, or recommendations for action by the regulated entity to address, correct, or remediate the violations, deficiencies, issues, or other findings identified during the examination, investigation, or inspection; including, but not limited to, any corrective or remedial action directed by SML or taken by the originator entity under §55.303 of this title (relating to Corrective Action); and(3) information that is derived from or is the product of the confidential information described by paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection, including any communications, documentary evidence, or other information concerning the regulated entity's compliance with any directives, mandates, or recommendations for action by the mortgage company and any corrective or remedial action taken by the regulated entity to address, correct, or remediate the violations, deficiencies, issues, or other findings identified during the examination, investigation, or inspection.(c) Loss of Confidentiality. Subsection (b) of this section notwithstanding, information described by that subsection is not confidential to the extent the information becomes publicly available in a disciplinary or enforcement action that is a contested case (i.e., information made part of the administrative record during an adjudicative hearing that is open to the public).7 Tex. Admin. Code § 55.302
Adopted by Texas Register, Volume 49, Number 46, November 15, 2024, TexReg 9205, eff. 11/23/2024