Interrogatories by department; other powers of department.

(1) The department may direct to any domestic corporation or foreign corporation subject to this chapter, and to any officer or director of any domestic corporation or foreign corporation subject to this chapter, interrogatories reasonably necessary and proper to enable the department to ascertain whether the domestic corporation or foreign corporation has complied with the provisions of this chapter applicable to the domestic corporation or foreign corporation. The interrogatories must be answered within 30 days after the date of mailing, or within such additional time as fixed by the department. The answers to the interrogatories must be full and complete and must be made in writing and under oath. If the interrogatories are directed to an individual, they must be answered by the individual, and if directed to a domestic corporation or foreign corporation, they must be answered by an officer or director of the domestic corporation or foreign corporation, by a shareholder if there are no officers or directors of the domestic corporation or foreign corporation, or by a fiduciary if the corporation is in the hands of a receiver, trustee, or other court-appointed fiduciary.

(2) The department need not file a record in a court of competent jurisdiction to which the interrogatories relate until the interrogatories are answered as provided in this chapter, and is not required to file a record if the answers disclose that the record is not in conformity with the requirements of this chapter or if the department has determined that the parties to such document have not paid all fees, taxes, and penalties due and owing this state. The department shall certify to the Department of Legal Affairs, for such action as the Department of Legal Affairs may deem appropriate, all interrogatories and answers that disclose a violation of this chapter.

(3) The department may, based upon its findings under this section or as provided in s. 213.053(15), bring an action in circuit court to collect any penalties, fees, or taxes determined to be due and owing the state and to compel any filing, qualification, or registration required by law. In connection with such proceeding, the department may, without prior approval by the court, file a lis pendens against any property owned by the corporation and may further certify any findings to the Department of Legal Affairs for the initiation of an action permitted pursuant to this chapter which the Department of Legal Affairs may deem appropriate.