Any writing received, owned, used, or retained by the state department in connection with the provisions of this chapter is a public record within the meaning of § 7920.530 of the Government Code, and, as a public record, is open to public inspection pursuant to Sections 7922.500 to 7922.545, inclusive, 7923.000, and 7923.005 of the Government Code. However, the names of any persons contained in those records, except the names of duly authorized officers, employees, or agents of the state department conducting an investigation or inspection in response to a complaint filed pursuant to this chapter, shall not be open to public inspection and copies of the records provided for public inspection shall have those names deleted.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 615, Sec. 233. (AB 474) Effective January 1, 2022. Operative January 1, 2023, pursuant to Sec. 463 of Stats. 2021, Ch. 615.)