To assist in locating parents who have deserted their children and other persons liable for support of dependents, the department may request information from the records of all departments, boards, bureaus and other agencies of this State and those departments, boards, bureaus and other agencies shall provide the necessary information. Only information directly bearing on the identity and whereabouts of a person owing or asserted to be owing an obligation of support may be requested and used or transmitted by the department pursuant to the authority conferred by this section. The department may make such information available only to public officials and agencies of this State, other states and the political subdivisions of this State and other states seeking to locate parents who have deserted their children and other persons liable for support of dependents for the purpose of enforcing their liability for support. The department may make information available to federal agencies conducting activities under 42 United States Code, Chapter 7, Subchapter IV, Part D (1996). The department must be provided automated access to records it is permitted access to under this section if the records are maintained in an automated data base.   [PL 1997, c. 537, §30 (AMD); PL 1997, c. 537, §62 (AFF).]