(a) To the extent permitted by law, all information regarding the financial condition, marketing plans, manufacturing processes, production costs, customer lists, or other trade secrets and proprietary information of a person or entity requesting assistance from the loan fund administered through the selected community based lending organizations by the corporation, shall be confidential and exempt from public disclosures.

(b) To the extent permitted by law, no full time employee of the State of New York or any agency, department, authority or public benefit corporation thereof shall be eligible to receive assistance under this program.