§ 49. Cooperation and assistance of other agencies. The office of
welfare inspector general may request from any department, board,
bureau, commission or other agency of the state and its political
subdivisions, and the same are authorized and directed to provide, such
cooperation and assistance, services and data as will enable the office
properly to carry out its functions, powers and duties. As an incident
to rendering such cooperation and assistance, all governmental agencies
shall be required to submit a written response to the office of welfare
inspector general respecting its reports and findings when so requested
by said office. Section one hundred thirty-six of the social services
law shall in no way be construed to restrict any person or governmental
body from cooperating and assisting the welfare inspector general
hereunder. Section six hundred ninety-seven or any other provision of
the tax law shall in no way be construed to restrict the office of
welfare inspector general from obtaining the name, address, social
security number, employment history and number of dependents claimed for
any individual certified by the welfare inspector general, or his
designee, to be a welfare recipient and suspected of abusing, defrauding
or otherwise violating the welfare system.