                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

INVESTIGATIONS; CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTS (§ 13.1-567)

The Commission may make such investigations within or outside of this
Commonwealth as it deems necessary to determine whether any person has violated
the provisions of this chapter or any order or injunction of the Commission, and
any franchisor found guilty of such a violation may be required to pay the
actual costs of the investigation including the time of the investigator. The
Commission shall have power to issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum to
require the attendance of any person and the production of any papers for the
purposes of such investigation. No person shall be excused from testifying on
the ground that his testimony would tend to incriminate him, but if, after
asserting his claim to the privilege, he is required to testify, he shall not be
prosecuted or penalized on account of any transactions concerning which he does
testify.
		Information or documents obtained or prepared by any member, subordinate or
employee of the Commission in the course of any examination or investigation
conducted pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed
confidential and shall not be disclosed to the public; provided, however, that
nothing contained herein shall be interpreted to prohibit or limit (i) the
publication of the findings, decisions, orders, judgments or opinions of the
Commission; (ii) the use of any such information or documents in proceedings by
or before the Commission or a hearing examiner appointed by the Commission;
(iii) the disclosure of any such information or documents to any
quasi-governmental entity substantially associated with the retail franchising
business approved by rule of the Commission; or, (iv) the disclosure of any such
information or documents to any governmental entity approved by rule of the
Commission, or to any attorney for the Commonwealth, or to the Attorney General
of Virginia.

HISTORY: 1972, c. 561; 1979, c. 379.