A member, officer or employee who is served with a subpoena requiring the disclosure of information or the production of documents not available for public inspection pursuant to section 1.23 of this Part, shall, unless otherwise directed by the commission, appear as directed by the subpoena and, unless otherwise authorized by the commission, shall respectfully decline to discuss the information or produce the documents called for, basing the refusal upon this section. Any member, officer or employee who is served with such subpoena shall promptly advise the commission of the service of such subpoena, the nature of the information or documents sought, and any circumstances which may bear upon the desirability of making available such information or documents. Nothing herein shall prohibit the commission from authorizing the disclosure or exchange of information with any public official, agency or other person upon a finding that the purposes of the Act will be effectuated thereby.