Except as provided in Section 12980, all matters connected with any conference, conciliation, or persuasion efforts under this part are privileged and may not be received in evidence. Except as provided in Section 12980, the members of the department and its staff shall not disclose to any person what has transpired in the course of such endeavors to conciliate. Every member of the department or its staff who discloses information in violation of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor. Such disclosure by an employee subject to civil service shall be cause

for disciplinary action under the State Civil Service Act.