Upon written request of the assessor of any county containing timber, the board shall permit the assessor, or any duly authorized deputy or employee of such assessor, to examine any records pertaining to the county of such assessor which are maintained by the board under this part. It is unlawful for the assessor or any other person examining records pursuant to this section to make known in any manner whatever the business affairs, operations or any other information pertaining to any timber owner or any other person required to report to the board or pay a tax pursuant to this part, or the amount or source of income, profits, loans, expenditures, or any particular thereof, set forth or disclosed in any return, except that any appraisal data, including “market data” as defined in Section 408, may be disclosed to any other assessor. Any assessor who unlawfully discloses information of any timber owner or any other person required to report to the board or pay a tax pursuant to this part shall forfeit one thousand dollars ($1,000) to the county, to be recovered on his official bond in an action brought in the name of the people by the Attorney General, when directed to do so by the board.