§412:2-106  Public or private hearings.  (a) All hearings before the commissioner shall be subject to chapter 91 and therules adopted pursuant thereto, unless it is expressly provided otherwise inthis chapter.

(b)  All actions of and proceedings before thecommissioner under parts III, IV, V and VI of this article shall be closed tothe public.  In such proceedings, reports of examination, testimony ofexaminers and other evidence may be presented to substantiate or refuteallegations stated in any notice of charges.  Except as otherwise provided bylaw, no person shall divulge information regarding such actions or proceedingsexcept to governmental authorities, to the person's directors, and to itsofficers, employees, attorneys, auditors, or other consultants or advisors ofthe person who have responsibilities related to the action or proceeding. Hearings which result from joint supervisory or enforcement actions with anappropriate federal regulatory agency shall be closed to the public, unless theprocedures set forth in this section are preempted by federal law.

(c)  Notwithstanding subsection (b) of thissection, the commissioner may authorize the disclosure of the existence oroutcome of an action or proceeding under parts III, IV, V and VI of thisarticle and may disclose other general information concerning the action orproceeding, if the commissioner shall determine that such disclosure is in thepublic interest. [L 1993, c 350, pt of §1]