(a) No person reporting to the behavioral sciences regulatory board in good faith and without malice any information such person may have relating to alleged incidents of malpractice, or the qualifications, fitness or character of, or disciplinary action taken against, a person licensed or registered by the board shall be subject to a civil action for damages as a result of reporting such information.

(b) Any state, regional or local association composed of persons licensed or registered to practice in a field governed by the behavioral sciences regulatory board and the individual members of any committee thereof, which in good faith and without malice investigates or communicates information pertaining to fitness or character of, or disciplinary action taken against, any licensee, registrant or certificate holder to the behavioral sciences regulatory board or to any committee or agent thereof, shall be immune from liability in any civil action that is based upon such investigation or transmittal or information if the investigation and communication was made in good faith and without malice and did not represent as true any matter not reasonably believed to be true.