(a) The Commissioner of Social Services shall conduct annual cross-matches of all or a selected group of the records of recipients of public assistance and state-administered general assistance with the records of other agencies or financial institutions in this state and in bordering states to determine whether such recipients are eligible for and are receiving correct amounts of assistance. The selection of which groups of recipients and which records to cross-match shall be based on criteria established by the commissioner. Financial institutions shall furnish such information as the commissioner determines is necessary to conduct a feasible cross-match pursuant to this section and shall respond to requests for information and cross-matching data within forty-five days of the request by the commissioner.

(b) Financial institutions shall not discriminate against recipients selected for cross-matching pursuant to this section.