(1) The commissioner is authorized to order that a whistleblower award is paid:
(a) directly to a known whistleblower; or
(b) for an anonymous whistleblower, to counsel for the whistleblower as provided in 30-10-1106, who shall distribute the award to the anonymous whistleblower.
(2) Any whistleblower award under this part must be paid solely from the monetary sanction collected in the related administrative or judicial action and has first priority over other payment or disbursement.