(a)  Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, every employer or payor of earnings shall make available to the department, upon written request by the department, any wage or earnings information in its possession, regarding an employee, former employee, or person providing goods or services who is a recipient, an applicant, or former recipient for assistance under the provisions of this chapter.

(b)  Any employer or payor who refuses to make available wage or earnings information shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500) or shall be imprisoned for not more than six (6) months, or both.