1.    The department may:

a.    Make such public or private investigations within or outside of this state as deemed necessary to determine whether any person has violated, is violating, or is about to violate any provision of this chapter or any rule or order hereunder, or to aid in the enforcement of this chapter or in the prescribing of rules and forms hereunder.

(1) For the purposes of this section, an investigation may include an examination of the books and records of any person registered under the provisions of this chapter. In the discretion of the commissioner, the expense reasonably attributed to an investigation under this section must be paid by the broker-dealer, agent, investment adviser, or investment adviser representative whose affairs are investigated.

(2) No person is liable to a broker-dealer, agent, investment adviser, federal covered adviser, or investment adviser representative for defamation relating to a statement that is contained in a record required or requested by the securities department pursuant to this subsection or required to be maintained under section 10-04-10.3, unless the person knew, or should have known at the time the statement was made, that it was false in a    material respect or the person acted in reckless disregard of the statement’s truth or falsity.

(3) Professional services contracted and rendered under this section are exempt from chapter 54-44.4.

b.    Require or permit any person to file a statement in writing, under oath or otherwise, as to all the facts and circumstances concerning the matter to be investigated.

c.    Publish information concerning any violation of this chapter or any rule or order hereunder and may keep confidential the information or documents obtained or prepared in the course of any investigation conducted under this section but only during an active and ongoing investigation. If an investigation under this section extends beyond six months, the commissioner shall, upon a request by any party, state in writing that the need for confidentiality still exists, the general reason why the need exists, and the date, as can best be determined at the time, when the need for confidentiality will cease.

2.    For the purpose of any investigation or proceeding under this chapter, the commissioner or any officer designated by the commissioner may administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance, take evidence, and require the production of any books, papers, correspondence, memoranda, agreements, or other documents or records which the commissioner deems relevant or material to the inquiry.

3.    The commissioner may issue subpoenas in this state at the request of a securities agency or administrator of another state if the activities constituting an alleged violation for which information is sought would be a violation of this chapter if the activities had occurred in this state.

4.    In case of contumacy by, or refusal to obey a subpoena issued to, any person, the district court, upon application by the commissioner, may issue to the person an order requiring the person to appear before the commissioner, or the officer designated by the commissioner, there to produce documentary evidence if so ordered or to give evidence touching the matter under investigation or in question. Failure to obey the order of the court may be punished by the court as a contempt of court.

5.    No person is excused from attending and testifying or from producing any document or record before the commissioner, or in obedience to the subpoena of the commissioner or any officer designated by the commissioner, or in any proceeding instituted by the commissioner, on the ground that the testimony or evidence, documentary or otherwise, required of the person may tend to incriminate the person or subject the person to a penalty or forfeiture. No testimony or evidence, documentary or otherwise, compelled from an individual after a valid claim of the privilege against self-incrimination has been made may be used against the individual in any criminal proceeding, or in any proceeding to subject the individual to a penalty or forfeiture, except that the individual testifying is not exempt from prosecution and punishment for perjury or contempt committed in testifying.