A. If an audit report is obtained, reviewed or used in a criminal proceeding, the privilege prescribed in this article is not waived or eliminated for any other purpose.

Terms Used In Arizona Laws 12-2327

  • Audit report: means an audit report, prepared by an organization, as prescribed by section 12-2322. See Arizona Laws 12-2321
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Organization: means a public or private company, corporation, political subdivision organized under title 48 of this code, firm, enterprise or institution, or any part or combination of these entities, whether incorporated or not, that has its own functions and administration. See Arizona Laws 12-2321

B. Notwithstanding the privilege prescribed in this article, a regulatory agency may review information in an audit report that is required to be available under a specific state or federal law, but that review does not waive or eliminate the privilege except for materials prescribed in section 12-2326.

C. If information is required to be available to the public by operation of a specific state or federal law, the governmental authority shall notify the organization claiming the privilege of the potential for public disclosure before obtaining that information pursuant to subsection A or B of this section.

D. If privileged information is disclosed under subsection B or C of this section, on the motion of a party, a court or the appropriate administrative official shall suppress evidence offered in any civil or administrative proceeding that arises or is derived from review, disclosure or use of information obtained under this section if the review, disclosure, or use is not authorized under section 12-2326. A party that has received information under subsection B or C of this section has the burden of proving that the evidence offered did not arise and was not derived from the review of privileged information.