(1) Except as prohibited by federal law, the department may have access to relevant information contained in the income tax returns of an applicant, a recipient, or a person who has a duty to support an applicant or recipient, in determining:
(a) eligibility for public assistance;
(b) payment responsibilities for institutional care; or
(c) any other administrative purpose consistent with this chapter.
(2) The information requested by the department shall be:
(a) provided by the State Tax Commission, to the extent authorized by federal law, on forms provided by the department; and
(b) treated by the department as a private record under Title 63G, Chapter 2, Government Records Access and Management Act.