Section 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.