1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to government data practices; classifying
1.3 data; providing for access to and sharing of data;
1.4 authorizing certain restrictions on access to data;
1.5 clarifying definitions and application provisions;
1.6 modifying penalty provisions; providing for electronic
1.7 copies of data; classifying and regulating disclosure
1.8 of information held by health maintenance
1.9 organizations; prohibiting monitoring of persons
1.10 requesting access to public data; requiring government
1.11 entities to have a data practices compliance official;
1.12 limiting tort liability for disclosure of geographic
1.13 information systems data; providing for administrative
1.14 and civil remedies; amending Minnesota Statutes 1998,
1.15 sections 13.01, by adding subdivisions; 13.02, by
1.16 adding a subdivision; 13.03, subdivision 5; 13.05, by
1.17 adding subdivisions; 13.08, subdivision 4; 13.41,
1.18 subdivision 2; 13.84, subdivisions 5 and 6; 62D.14, by
1.19 adding a subdivision; 72A.491, subdivision 17;
1.20 119A.376, by adding a subdivision; 119A.44, by adding
1.21 a subdivision; 119A.50; 270B.14, subdivision 8;
1.22 466.03, by adding a subdivision; and 609.115,
1.23 subdivision 5; Minnesota Statutes 1999 Supplement,
1.24 sections 13.03, subdivision 3; 13.32, subdivision 7;
1.25 13.99, subdivision 19, and by adding a subdivision;
1.26 256.978, subdivision 1; and 268.19; Laws 1999, chapter
1.27 216, article 2, section 27, subdivision 1, and by
1.28 adding subdivisions; proposing coding for new law in
1.29 Minnesota Statutes, chapters 13; and 62D; repealing
1.30 Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 62D.14, subdivision 4.
1.31 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.32 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 13.01, is
1.33 amended by adding a subdivision to read:
1.34 Subd. 4. [HEADNOTES.] The headnotes printed in boldface
1.35 type before paragraphs in this chapter are mere catchwords to
1.36 indicate the content of a paragraph and are not part of the
1.37 statute.
1.38 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 13.01, is amended
2.1 by adding a subdivision to read:
2.2 Subd. 5. [PROVISIONS CODED IN OTHER CHAPTERS.] (a) The
2.3 sections referenced in this chapter that are codified outside
2.4 this chapter classify government data as other than public,
2.5 place restrictions on access to government data, or involve data
2.6 sharing.
2.7 (b) Those sections are governed by the definitions and
2.8 general provisions in sections 13.01 to 13.07 and the remedies
2.9 and penalties provided in sections 13.08 and 13.09, except:
2.10 (1) for records of the judiciary, as provided in section
2.11 13.90; or
2.12 (2) as specifically provided otherwise by law.
2.13 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 13.02, is amended
2.14 by adding a subdivision to read:
2.15 Subd. 7a. [GOVERNMENT ENTITY.] "Government entity" means a
2.16 state agency, statewide system, or political subdivision.
2.17 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 1999 Supplement, section 13.03,
2.18 subdivision 3, is amended to read:
2.19 Subd. 3. [REQUEST FOR ACCESS TO DATA.] (a) Upon request to
2.20 a responsible authority or designee, a person shall be permitted
2.21 to inspect and copy public government data at reasonable times
2.22 and places, and, upon request, shall be informed of the data's
2.23 meaning. If a person requests access for the purpose of
2.24 inspection, the responsible authority may not assess a charge or
2.25 require the requesting person to pay a fee to inspect data.
2.26 (b) For purposes of this section, "inspection" includes,
2.27 but is not limited to, the visual inspection of paper and
2.28 similar types of government data. Inspection does not include
2.29 printing copies by the government entity, unless printing a copy
2.30 is the only method to provide for inspection of the data. In
2.31 the case of data stored in electronic form and made available in
2.32 electronic form on a remote access basis to the public by the
2.33 government entity, inspection includes remote access to the data
2.34 by the public and the ability to print copies of or download the
2.35 data on the public's own computer equipment. Nothing in this
2.36 section prohibits a government entity from charging a reasonable
3.1 fee for remote access to data under a specific statutory grant
3.2 of authority. A government entity may charge a fee for remote
3.3 access to data where either the data or the access is enhanced
3.4 at the request of the person seeking access.
3.5 (c) The responsible authority or designee shall provide
3.6 copies of public data upon request. If a person requests copies
3.7 or electronic transmittal of the data to the person, the
3.8 responsible authority may require the requesting person to pay
3.9 the actual costs of searching for and retrieving government
3.10 data, including the cost of employee time, and for making,
3.11 certifying, compiling, and electronically transmitting the
3.12 copies of the data or the data, but may not charge for
3.13 separating public from not public data. If the responsible
3.14 authority or designee is not able to provide copies at the time
3.15 a request is made, copies shall be supplied as soon as
3.16 reasonably possible.
3.17 (d) When a request under this subdivision involves any
3.18 person's receipt of copies of public government data that has
3.19 commercial value and is a substantial and discrete portion of or
3.20 an entire formula, pattern, compilation, program, device,
3.21 method, technique, process, database, or system developed with a
3.22 significant expenditure of public funds by the agency, the
3.23 responsible authority may charge a reasonable fee for the
3.24 information in addition to the costs of making, certifying, and
3.25 compiling the copies. Any fee charged must be clearly
3.26 demonstrated by the agency to relate to the actual development
3.27 costs of the information. The responsible authority, upon the
3.28 request of any person, shall provide sufficient documentation to
3.29 explain and justify the fee being charged.
3.30 (e) The responsible authority of a state agency, statewide
3.31 system, or political subdivision that maintains public
3.32 government data in a computer storage medium shall provide to
3.33 any person making a request under this section a copy of any
3.34 public data contained in that medium, in electronic form, if the
3.35 government entity can reasonably make the copy or have a copy
3.36 made. This does not require a government entity to provide the
4.1 data in an electronic format or program that is different from
4.2 the format or program in which the data are maintained by the
4.3 government entity. The entity may require the requesting person
4.4 to pay the actual cost of providing the copy.
4.5 (e) (f) If the responsible authority or designee determines
4.6 that the requested data is classified so as to deny the
4.7 requesting person access, the responsible authority or designee
4.8 shall inform the requesting person of the determination either
4.9 orally at the time of the request, or in writing as soon after
4.10 that time as possible, and shall cite the specific statutory
4.11 section, temporary classification, or specific provision of
4.12 federal law on which the determination is based. Upon the
4.13 request of any person denied access to data, the responsible
4.14 authority or designee shall certify in writing that the request
4.15 has been denied and cite the specific statutory section,
4.16 temporary classification, or specific provision of federal law
4.17 upon which the denial was based.
4.18 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 13.03,
4.19 subdivision 5, is amended to read:
4.20 Subd. 5. [COPYRIGHT OR PATENT OF COMPUTER PROGRAM
4.21 GOVERNMENT DATA.] Nothing in this chapter or any other statute
4.22 shall be construed to prevent A state agency, statewide system,
4.23 or political subdivision from acquiring may enforce a copyright
4.24 or acquire a patent for a computer software program or
4.25 components of a program created by that government
4.26 agency without statutory authority. In the event that a
4.27 government agency does acquire acquires a patent or copyright to
4.28 a computer software program or component of a program, the data
4.29 shall be treated as trade secret information pursuant to section
4.30 13.37.
4.31 Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 13.05, is amended
4.32 by adding a subdivision to read:
4.33 Subd. 12. [IDENTIFICATION OR JUSTIFICATION.] Unless
4.34 specifically authorized by statute, government entities may not
4.35 require persons to identify themselves, state a reason for, or
4.36 justify a request to gain access to public government data. A
5.1 person may be asked to provide certain identifying or clarifying
5.2 information for the sole purpose of facilitating access to the
5.3 data.
5.4 Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 13.05, is amended
5.5 by adding a subdivision to read:
5.6 Subd. 13. [DATA PRACTICES COMPLIANCE OFFICIAL.] By
5.7 December 1, 2000, each responsible authority or other
5.8 appropriate authority in every government entity shall appoint
5.9 or designate an employee of the government entity to act as the
5.10 entity's data practices compliance official. The data practices
5.11 compliance official is the designated employee of the government
5.12 entity to whom persons may direct questions or concerns
5.13 regarding problems in obtaining access to data or other data
5.14 practices problems. The responsible authority may be the data
5.15 practices compliance official.
5.16 Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 13.08,
5.17 subdivision 4, is amended to read:
5.18 Subd. 4. [ACTION TO COMPEL COMPLIANCE.] (a) In addition to
5.19 the remedies provided in subdivisions 1 to 3 or any other law,
5.20 any aggrieved person seeking to enforce the person's rights
5.21 under this chapter or obtain access to data may bring an action
5.22 in district court to compel compliance with this chapter and may
5.23 recover costs and disbursements, including reasonable attorney's
5.24 fees, as determined by the court. If the court determines that
5.25 an action brought under this subdivision is frivolous and
5.26 without merit and a basis in fact, it may award reasonable costs
5.27 and attorney fees to the responsible authority. If the court
5.28 issues an order to compel compliance under this subdivision, the
5.29 court may impose a civil penalty of up to $300 against the
5.30 government entity. This penalty is payable to the state general
5.31 fund and is in addition to damages under subdivision 1. The
5.32 matter shall be heard as soon as possible. In an action
5.33 involving a request for government data under section 13.03 or
5.34 13.04, the court may inspect in camera the government data in
5.35 dispute, but shall conduct its hearing in public and in a manner
5.36 that protects the security of data classified as not public. If
6.1 the court issues an order to compel compliance under this
6.2 subdivision, the court shall forward a copy of the order to the
6.3 commissioner of administration.
6.4 (b) In determining whether to assess a civil penalty under
6.5 this subdivision, the court shall consider whether the
6.6 government entity has substantially complied with general data
6.7 practices under this chapter, including but not limited to,
6.8 whether the government entity has:
6.9 (1) designated a responsible authority under section 13.02,
6.10 subdivision 16;
6.11 (2) designated a data practices compliance official under
6.12 section 13.05, subdivision 13;
6.13 (3) prepared the public document that names the responsible
6.14 authority and describes the records and data on individuals that
6.15 are maintained by the government entity under section 13.05,
6.16 subdivision 1;
6.17 (4) developed public access procedures under section 13.03,
6.18 subdivision 2; procedures to guarantee the rights of data
6.19 subjects under section 13.05, subdivision 8; and procedures to
6.20 ensure that data on individuals are accurate and complete and to
6.21 safeguard the data's security under section 13.05, subdivision
6.22 5;
6.23 (5) sought an oral, written, or electronic opinion from the
6.24 commissioner of administration related to the matter at issue
6.25 and acted in conformity with that opinion or an opinion sought
6.26 by another person; or
6.27 (6) provided ongoing training to government entity
6.28 personnel who respond to requests under this chapter.
6.29 Sec. 9. [13.081] [ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDIES.]
6.30 Subdivision 1. [COMPLAINTS.] Any person who believes that
6.31 a government entity is not in compliance with this chapter may
6.32 file a complaint with the commissioner. The commissioner shall
6.33 specify the form of the complaint. The commissioner shall
6.34 conduct an investigation to determine whether the complaint is
6.35 valid or whether another alternative dispute resolution process
6.36 exists to address the issue presented. If the commissioner
7.1 determines the complaint is not valid or another alternative
7.2 dispute resolution process is a more appropriate forum for
7.3 resolving the dispute, the commissioner shall dismiss the
7.4 complaint and so inform the person who filed the complaint and
7.5 the government entity that was the subject of the complaint. If
7.6 the commissioner determines the complaint is valid, the
7.7 commissioner may take any of the actions under subdivision 2 to
7.8 resolve the complaint. The commissioner shall either dismiss
7.9 the complaint or refer it for one of the actions under
7.10 subdivision 2 within 20 days of receipt of the complaint. For
7.11 good cause and upon written notice to the person bringing the
7.12 complaint, the commissioner may extend this deadline for one
7.13 additional 30-day period.
7.14 Subd. 2. [INFORMAL RESOLUTION OF COMPLAINT.] The
7.15 commissioner may attempt to resolve a complaint informally or,
7.16 with the consent of both parties, refer the matter to an
7.17 alternative dispute resolution process and use the services of
7.18 the office of dispute resolution or the office of administrative
7.19 hearings to arbitrate or mediate the dispute.
7.20 Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 1999 Supplement, section
7.21 13.32, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
7.22 Subd. 7. [USES OF DATA.] School officials who receive data
7.23 on juveniles, as authorized under sections 260B.171 and
7.24 260C.171, may use and share that data within the school district
7.25 or educational entity as necessary to protect persons and
7.26 property or to address the educational and other needs of
7.27 students. A school district, its agents, and employees who use
7.28 and share this data in good faith are immune from civil or
7.29 criminal liability that might otherwise result from their
7.30 actions.
7.31 Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 13.41,
7.32 subdivision 2, is amended to read:
7.33 Subd. 2. [PRIVATE DATA; DESIGNATED ADDRESSES AND TELEPHONE
7.34 NUMBERS.] (a) The following data collected, created or
7.35 maintained by any licensing agency are classified as private,
7.36 pursuant to section 13.02, subdivision 12: data, other than
8.1 their names and designated addresses, submitted by applicants
8.2 for licenses; the identity of complainants who have made reports
8.3 concerning licensees or applicants which appear in inactive
8.4 complaint data unless the complainant consents to the
8.5 disclosure; the nature or content of unsubstantiated complaints
8.6 when the information is not maintained in anticipation of legal
8.7 action; the identity of patients whose medical records are
8.8 received by any health licensing agency for purposes of review
8.9 or in anticipation of a contested matter; inactive investigative
8.10 data relating to violations of statutes or rules; and the record
8.11 of any disciplinary proceeding except as limited by subdivision
8.12 4.
8.13 (b) An applicant for a license shall designate on the
8.14 application a residence or business address and telephone number
8.15 at which the applicant can be contacted in connection with the
8.16 license application. A licensee who is subject to a
8.17 health-related licensing board, as defined in section 214.01,
8.18 subdivision 2, shall designate a residence or business address
8.19 and telephone number at which the licensee can be contacted in
8.20 connection with the license. By designating an address under
8.21 this paragraph other than a residence address, the applicant or
8.22 licensee consents to accept personal service of process by
8.23 service on the licensing agency for legal or administrative
8.24 proceedings. The licensing agency shall mail a copy of the
8.25 documents to the applicant or licensee at the last known
8.26 residence address.
8.27 Sec. 12. [13.623] [ST. PAUL HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT
8.28 AUTHORITY DATA.]
8.29 Subdivision 1. [PRIVATE AND NONPUBLIC DATA.] The following
8.30 data that are submitted to the St. Paul housing and
8.31 redevelopment authority by individuals and business entities
8.32 that are requesting financial assistance are private data on
8.33 individuals or nonpublic data: financial statements; credit
8.34 reports; business plans; income and expense projections;
8.35 customer lists; balance sheets; income tax returns; and design,
8.36 market, and feasibility studies not paid for with public funds.
9.1 Subd. 2. [PUBLIC DATA.] Data submitted to the authority
9.2 under subdivision 1 become public data if the authority provides
9.3 financial assistance to the individual or business entity,
9.4 except that the following data remain private or nonpublic:
9.5 business plans; income and expense projections not related to
9.6 the financial assistance provided; customer lists; income tax
9.7 returns; and design, market, and feasibility studies not paid
9.8 for with public funds.
9.9 Sec. 13. [13.624] [ST. PAUL ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE DATA.]
9.10 Subdivision 1. [PRIVATE AND NONPUBLIC DATA.] The following
9.11 data that are submitted to the city of St. Paul by individuals
9.12 and business entities that are requesting financial assistance
9.13 are private data on individuals or nonpublic data: financial
9.14 statements; credit reports; business plans; income and expense
9.15 projections; customer lists; balance sheets; income tax returns;
9.16 and design, market, and feasibility studies not paid for with
9.17 public funds.
9.18 Subd. 2. [PUBLIC DATA.] Data submitted to the city under
9.19 subdivision 1 become public data if the city provides financial
9.20 assistance to the individual or business entity, except that the
9.21 following data remain private or nonpublic: business plans;
9.22 income and expense projections not related to the financial
9.23 assistance provided; customer lists; income tax returns; and
9.24 design, market, and feasibility studies not paid for with public
9.25 funds.
9.26 Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 13.84,
9.27 subdivision 5, is amended to read:
9.28 Subd. 5. [DISCLOSURE.] Private or confidential court
9.29 services data shall not be disclosed except:
9.30 (a) Pursuant to section 13.05;
9.31 (b) Pursuant to a statute specifically authorizing
9.32 disclosure of court services data;
9.33 (c) With the written permission of the source of
9.34 confidential data;
9.35 (d) To the court services department, parole or probation
9.36 authority or state or local correctional agency or facility
10.1 having statutorily granted supervision over the individual
10.2 subject of the data;
10.3 (e) Pursuant to subdivision 5a; or
10.4 (f) Pursuant to a valid court order.
10.5 Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 13.84,
10.6 subdivision 6, is amended to read:
10.7 Subd. 6. [PUBLIC DATA.] The following court services data
10.8 on adult individuals is public:
10.9 (a) name, age, date of birth, sex, occupation and the fact
10.10 that an individual is a parolee, probationer or participant in a
10.11 diversion program, and if so, at what location;
10.12 (b) the offense for which the individual was placed under
10.13 supervision;
10.14 (c) the dates supervision began and ended and the duration
10.15 of supervision;
10.16 (d) court services data which was public in a court or
10.17 other agency which originated the data;
10.18 (e) arrest and detention orders, orders for parole or
10.19 probation revocation and the reasons for revocation;
10.20 (f) the conditions of parole, probation or participation
10.21 and the extent to which those conditions have been or are being
10.22 met;
10.23 (g) identities of agencies, units within agencies and
10.24 individuals providing supervision; and
10.25 (h) the legal basis for any change in supervision and the
10.26 date, time and locations associated with the change.
10.27 Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 1999 Supplement, section
10.28 13.99, subdivision 19, is amended to read:
10.29 Subd. 19. [HMO EXAMINATIONS.] Data obtained by the
10.30 commissioner of health in the course of an examination of the
10.31 affairs of a health maintenance organization are classified
10.32 under section 62D.14, subdivisions 1 and 4 4a.
10.33 Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 1999 Supplement, section
10.34 13.99, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
10.35 Subd. 27g. [DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND LEARNING
10.36 PROGRAM SERVICES.] Data on individuals receiving services under
11.1 certain programs administered by the department of children,
11.2 families, and learning are classified under sections 119A.376,
11.3 subdivision 4; 119A.44, subdivision 7; and 119A.50, subdivision
11.4 2.
11.5 Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 62D.14, is
11.6 amended by adding a subdivision to read:
11.7 Subd. 4a. [CLASSIFICATION OF DATA.] Any data or
11.8 information obtained by the commissioner under this section or
11.9 section 62D.145 shall be classified as private data on
11.10 individuals as defined in chapter 13. Such data shall be
11.11 protected and may be released consistent with the provisions of
11.12 section 60A.03, subdivision 9.
11.13 Sec. 19. [62D.145] [DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION HELD BY
11.14 HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS.]
11.15 Subdivision 1. [PERSONAL AND PRIVILEGED INFORMATION.] The
11.16 ability of a health maintenance organization to disclose
11.17 personal information, as defined in section 72A.491, subdivision
11.18 17, and privileged information, as defined in section 72A.491,
11.19 subdivision 19, is governed by sections 72A.497, 72A.499, and
11.20 72A.502.
11.21 Subd. 2. [HEALTH DATA OR INFORMATION.] (a) A health
11.22 maintenance organization is prohibited from disclosing to any
11.23 person any individually identifiable data or information held by
11.24 the health maintenance organization pertaining to the diagnosis,
11.25 treatment, or health of any enrollee, or any application
11.26 obtained from any person, except:
11.27 (1) to the extent necessary to carry out the purposes of
11.28 this chapter, the commissioner and a designee shall have access
11.29 to the above data or information but the data removed from the
11.30 health maintenance organization or participating entity shall
11.31 not identify any particular patient or client by name or contain
11.32 any other unique personal identifier;
11.33 (2) upon the express consent of the enrollee or applicant;
11.34 (3) pursuant to statute or court order for the production
11.35 of evidence or the discovery thereof;
11.36 (4) in the event of claim or litigation between the person
12.1 and the provider or health maintenance organization wherein such
12.2 data or information is pertinent;
12.3 (5) to meet the requirements of contracts for prepaid
12.4 medical services with the commissioner of human services
12.5 authorized under chapter 256B, 256D, or 256L;
12.6 (6) to meet the requirements of contracts for benefit plans
12.7 with the commissioner of employee relations under chapter 43A;
12.8 or
12.9 (7) as otherwise authorized pursuant to statute.
12.10 No provision in a contract for a benefit plan under chapter
12.11 43A shall authorize dissemination of individually identifiable
12.12 health records, unless the dissemination of the health records
12.13 is required to carry out the requirements of the contract and
12.14 employees whose health records will be disseminated are fully
12.15 informed of the dissemination by the department of employee
12.16 relations at the time the employees are enrolling for or
12.17 changing insurance coverage.
12.18 (b) In any case involving a suspected violation of a law
12.19 applicable to health maintenance organizations in which access
12.20 to health data maintained by the health maintenance organization
12.21 or participating entity is necessary, the commissioner and
12.22 agents, while maintaining the privacy rights of individuals and
12.23 families, shall be permitted to obtain data that identifies any
12.24 particular patient or client by name. A health maintenance
12.25 organization shall be entitled to claim any statutory privileges
12.26 against such disclosure which the provider who furnished the
12.27 information to the health maintenance organization is entitled
12.28 to claim.
12.29 Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 72A.491,
12.30 subdivision 17, is amended to read:
12.31 Subd. 17. [PERSONAL INFORMATION.] "Personal information"
12.32 means any individually identifiable information gathered in
12.33 connection with an insurance transaction from which judgments
12.34 can be made about an individual's character, habits, avocations,
12.35 finances, occupation, general reputation, credit, health, or any
12.36 other personal characteristics. The term includes the
13.1 individual's name and address and health record information, but
13.2 does not include privileged information. Personal information
13.3 does not include health record information maintained by a
13.4 health maintenance organization as defined under section 62D.02,
13.5 subdivision 4, in its capacity as a health provider.
13.6 Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 119A.376, is
13.7 amended by adding a subdivision to read:
13.8 Subd. 4. [DATA CLASSIFICATION.] Data collected on
13.9 individuals from which the identity of any individual receiving
13.10 services may be determined are private data on individuals as
13.11 defined in section 13.02.
13.12 Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 119A.44, is
13.13 amended by adding a subdivision to read:
13.14 Subd. 7. [DATA CLASSIFICATION.] Data collected on
13.15 individuals from which the identity of any individual receiving
13.16 services may be determined are private data on individuals as
13.17 defined in section 13.02.
13.18 Sec. 23. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 119A.50, is
13.19 amended to read:
13.20 119A.50 [HEAD START PROGRAM.]
13.21 Subdivision 1. [DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND
13.22 LEARNING.] The department of children, families, and learning is
13.23 the state agency responsible for administering the Head Start
13.24 program. The commissioner of children, families, and learning
13.25 may make grants to public or private nonprofit agencies for the
13.26 purpose of providing supplemental funds for the federal Head
13.27 Start program.
13.28 Subd. 2. [DATA CLASSIFICATION.] Data collected on
13.29 individuals from which the identity of any individual receiving
13.30 services may be determined are private data on individuals as
13.31 defined in section 13.02.
13.32 Sec. 24. Minnesota Statutes 1999 Supplement, section
13.33 256.978, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
13.34 Subdivision 1. [REQUEST FOR INFORMATION.] (a) The public
13.35 authority responsible for child support in this state or any
13.36 other state, in order to locate a person or to obtain
14.1 information necessary to establish paternity and child support
14.2 or to modify or enforce child support or distribute collections,
14.3 may request information reasonably necessary to the inquiry from
14.4 the records of (1) all departments, boards, bureaus, or other
14.5 agencies of this state agencies or political subdivisions of
14.6 this state, as defined in section 13.02, which shall,
14.7 notwithstanding the provisions of section 268.19 or any other
14.8 law to the contrary, provide the information necessary for this
14.9 purpose; and (2) employers, utility companies, insurance
14.10 companies, financial institutions, credit grantors, and labor
14.11 associations doing business in this state. They shall provide a
14.12 response upon written or electronic request within 30 days of
14.13 service of the request made by the public authority.
14.14 Information requested and used or transmitted by the
14.15 commissioner according to the authority conferred by this
14.16 section may be made available to other agencies, statewide
14.17 systems, and political subdivisions of this state, and agencies
14.18 of other states, interstate information networks, federal
14.19 agencies, and other entities as required by federal regulation
14.20 or law for the administration of the child support enforcement
14.21 program.
14.22 (b) For purposes of this section, "state" includes the
14.23 District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin
14.24 Islands, and any territory or insular possession subject to the
14.25 jurisdiction of the United States.
14.26 Sec. 25. Minnesota Statutes 1999 Supplement, section
14.27 268.19, is amended to read:
14.28 268.19 [INFORMATION DATA PRIVACY.]
14.29 (a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, data
14.30 gathered from any employer or individual pursuant to the
14.31 administration of sections 268.03 to 268.23 are private data on
14.32 individuals or nonpublic data not on individuals as defined in
14.33 section 13.02, subdivisions 9 and 12, and may not be disclosed
14.34 except pursuant to a court order or section 13.05. These data
14.35 may be disseminated to and used by the following agencies
14.36 without the consent of the subject of the data:
15.1 (1) state and federal agencies specifically authorized
15.2 access to the data by state or federal law;
15.3 (2) any agency of Minnesota or any other state; or any
15.4 federal agency charged with the administration of an employment
15.5 security law or the maintenance of a system of public employment
15.6 offices;
15.7 (3) human rights agencies within Minnesota that have
15.8 enforcement powers;
15.9 (4) the department of revenue must have access to
15.10 department private data on individuals and nonpublic data not on
15.11 individuals only to the extent necessary for enforcement of
15.12 Minnesota tax laws;
15.13 (5) public and private agencies responsible for
15.14 administering publicly financed assistance programs for the
15.15 purpose of monitoring the eligibility of the program's
15.16 recipients;
15.17 (6) the department of labor and industry on an
15.18 interchangeable basis with the department subject to the
15.19 following limitations and regardless of any law to the contrary:
15.20 (i) the department must have access to private data on
15.21 individuals and nonpublic data not on individuals for uses
15.22 consistent with the administration of its duties under sections
15.23 268.03 to 268.23; and
15.24 (ii) the department of labor and industry must have access
15.25 to private data on individuals and nonpublic data not on
15.26 individuals for uses consistent with the administration of its
15.27 duties under Minnesota law;
15.28 (7) the department of trade and economic development may
15.29 have access to private data on individual employers and
15.30 nonpublic data not on individual employers for its internal use
15.31 only; when received by the department of trade and economic
15.32 development, the data remain private data on individuals or
15.33 nonpublic data;
15.34 (8) local and state welfare agencies for monitoring the
15.35 eligibility of the data subject for assistance programs, or for
15.36 any employment or training program administered by those
16.1 agencies, whether alone, in combination with another welfare
16.2 agency, or in conjunction with the department or to monitor and
16.3 evaluate the statewide Minnesota family investment program by
16.4 providing data on recipients and former recipients of food
16.5 stamps, cash assistance under chapter 256, 256D, 256J, or 256K,
16.6 child care assistance under chapter 119B, or medical programs
16.7 under chapter 256B, 256D, or 256L;
16.8 (9) local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies for
16.9 the sole purpose of ascertaining the last known address and
16.10 employment location of the data subject, provided the data
16.11 subject is the subject of a criminal investigation; and
16.12 (10) the federal Immigration and Naturalization Service
16.13 shall have access to data on specific individuals and specific
16.14 employers provided the specific individual or specific employer
16.15 is the subject of an investigation by that agency; and
16.16 (11) the department of health may have access to private
16.17 data on individuals and nonpublic data not on individuals solely
16.18 for the purposes of epidemiologic investigations.
16.19 (b) Data on individuals and employers that are collected,
16.20 maintained, or used by the department in an investigation
16.21 pursuant to section 268.182 are confidential as to data on
16.22 individuals and protected nonpublic data not on individuals as
16.23 defined in section 13.02, subdivisions 3 and 13, and must not be
16.24 disclosed except pursuant to statute or court order or to a
16.25 party named in a criminal proceeding, administrative or
16.26 judicial, for preparation of a defense.
16.27 (c) Tape recordings and transcripts of recordings of
16.28 proceedings conducted in accordance with section 268.105 and
16.29 exhibits received into evidence at those proceedings are private
16.30 data on individuals and nonpublic data not on individuals and
16.31 must be disclosed only pursuant to the administration of section
16.32 268.105, or pursuant to a court order.
16.33 (d) The department may disseminate an employer's name,
16.34 address, industry code, occupations employed, and the number of
16.35 employees by ranges of not less than 100 for the purpose of
16.36 assisting individuals using the Minnesota workforce center
17.1 system in obtaining employment.
17.2 (e) The general aptitude test battery and the nonverbal
17.3 aptitude test battery as administered by the department are
17.4 private data on individuals or nonpublic data.
17.5 (f) Data gathered by the department pursuant to the
17.6 administration of sections 268.03 to 268.23 must not be made the
17.7 subject or the basis for any suit in any civil proceedings,
17.8 administrative or judicial, unless the action is initiated by
17.9 the department.
17.10 Sec. 26. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 270B.14,
17.11 subdivision 8, is amended to read:
17.12 Subd. 8. [EXCHANGE BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR AND
17.13 INDUSTRY AND REVENUE.] The departments of labor and industry and
17.14 revenue may exchange information as follows:
17.15 (1) data used in determining whether a business is an
17.16 employer or a contracting agent;
17.17 (2) taxpayer identity information relating to employers and
17.18 employees for purposes of supporting tax administration and
17.19 chapter 176; and
17.20 (3) data to the extent provided in and for the purpose set
17.21 out in section 176.181, subdivision 8.
17.22 Sec. 27. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 466.03, is
17.23 amended by adding a subdivision to read:
17.24 Subd. 21. [GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (GIS) DATA.] (a)
17.25 Any claim against a municipality, based on alleged or actual
17.26 inaccuracies in geographic information systems data, arising
17.27 from the public's use of GIS data, if the municipality provides
17.28 a disclaimer of the accuracy of the information at any point of
17.29 initial contact with a geographic information system to which
17.30 the public has general access.
17.31 (b) Geographic information systems data is government data
17.32 subject to the presumption of section 13.01, subdivision 3. GIS
17.33 data is data generated by a computer database or system that is
17.34 designed to electronically capture, organize, store, update,
17.35 manipulate, analyze, and display all forms of geographically
17.36 referenced information that is compiled, from private or public
18.1 sources, either alone or in cooperation with other public or
18.2 private entities, for use by a municipality. GIS data is
18.3 accurate for its intended use by a municipality and may be
18.4 inaccurate for other uses.
18.5 Sec. 28. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 609.115,
18.6 subdivision 5, is amended to read:
18.7 Subd. 5. [REPORT TO COMMISSIONER OR LOCAL CORRECTIONAL
18.8 AGENCY.] If the defendant is sentenced to the commissioner of
18.9 corrections, a copy of any report made pursuant to this section
18.10 and not made by the commissioner shall accompany the
18.11 commitment. If the defendant is sentenced to a local
18.12 correctional agency or facility, a copy of the report must be
18.13 provided to that agency or facility.
18.14 Sec. 29. Laws 1999, chapter 216, article 2, section 27,
18.15 subdivision 1, is amended to read:
18.16 Subdivision 1. [PILOT PROJECT AUTHORIZED; PURPOSE.] The
18.17 fourth judicial district may establish a domestic fatality
18.18 review team as a 30-month pilot project to review domestic
18.19 violence deaths that have occurred in the district. The team
18.20 may review cases in which prosecution has been completed or the
18.21 prosecutorial authority has decided not to pursue the case. The
18.22 purpose of the review team is to assess domestic violence deaths
18.23 in order to develop recommendations for policies and protocols
18.24 for community prevention and intervention initiatives to reduce
18.25 and eliminate the incidence of domestic violence and resulting
18.26 fatalities.
18.27 Sec. 30. Laws 1999, chapter 216, article 2, section 27, is
18.28 amended by adding a subdivision to read:
18.29 Subd. 3a. [DUTIES; ACCESS TO DATA.] (a) The domestic
18.30 fatality review team shall collect, review, and analyze death
18.31 certificates and death data, including investigative reports,
18.32 medical and counseling records, victim service records,
18.33 employment records, child abuse reports, or other information
18.34 concerning domestic violence deaths, survivor interviews and
18.35 surveys, and other information deemed by the team as necessary
18.36 and appropriate concerning the causes and manner of domestic
19.1 violence deaths.
19.2 (b) The review team has access to the following not public
19.3 data, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 13.02,
19.4 subdivision 8a, relating to a case being reviewed by the team:
19.5 inactive law enforcement investigative data under Minnesota
19.6 Statutes, section 13.82; autopsy records and coroner or medical
19.7 examiner investigative data under Minnesota Statutes, section
19.8 13.83; hospital, public health, or other medical records of the
19.9 victim under Minnesota Statutes, section 13.42; records under
19.10 Minnesota Statutes, section 13.46, created by social service
19.11 agencies that provided services to the victim, the alleged
19.12 perpetrator, or another victim who experienced or was threatened
19.13 with domestic abuse by the perpetrator; and child maltreatment
19.14 records under Minnesota Statutes, section 626.556, relating to
19.15 the victim or a family or household member of the victim.
19.16 Access to medical records under this paragraph also includes
19.17 records governed by Minnesota Statutes, section 144.335.
19.18 (c) As part of any review, the domestic fatality review
19.19 team may compel the production of other records by applying to
19.20 the district court for a subpoena, which will be effective
19.21 throughout the state according to the Rules of Civil Procedure.
19.22 Sec. 31. Laws 1999, chapter 216, article 2, section 27, is
19.23 amended by adding a subdivision to read:
19.24 Subd. 3b. [CONFIDENTIALITY; DATA PRIVACY.] A person
19.25 attending a domestic fatality review team meeting may not
19.26 disclose what transpired at the meeting, except to carry out the
19.27 purposes of the review team or as otherwise provided in this
19.28 subdivision. The review team may disclose the names of the
19.29 victims in the cases it reviewed. The proceedings and records
19.30 of the review team are confidential data as defined in Minnesota
19.31 Statutes, section 13.02, subdivision 3, or protected nonpublic
19.32 data as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 13.02,
19.33 subdivision 13, regardless of their classification in the hands
19.34 of the person who provided the data, and are not subject to
19.35 discovery or introduction into evidence in a civil or criminal
19.36 action against a professional, the state or a county agency,
20.1 arising out of the matters the team is reviewing. Information,
20.2 documents, and records otherwise available from other sources
20.3 are not immune from discovery or use in a civil or criminal
20.4 action solely because they were presented during proceedings of
20.5 the review team. This section does not limit a person who
20.6 presented information before the review team or who is a member
20.7 of the panel from testifying about matters within the person's
20.8 knowledge. However, in a civil or criminal proceeding, a person
20.9 may not be questioned about the person's good faith presentation
20.10 of information to the review team or opinions formed by the
20.11 person as a result of the review team meetings.
20.12 Sec. 32. Laws 1999, chapter 216, article 2, section 27, is
20.13 amended by adding a subdivision to read:
20.14 Subd. 3c. [IMMUNITY.] Members of the fourth judicial
20.15 district domestic fatality advisory board, members of the
20.16 domestic fatality review team, and members of each review panel,
20.17 as well as their agents or employees, are immune from claims and
20.18 are not subject to any suits, liability, damages, or any other
20.19 recourse, civil or criminal, arising from any act, proceeding,
20.20 decision, or determination undertaken or performed or
20.21 recommendation made by the domestic fatality review team,
20.22 provided they acted in good faith and without malice in carrying
20.23 out their responsibilities. Good faith is presumed until proven
20.24 otherwise and the complainant has the burden of proving malice
20.25 or a lack of good faith. No organization, institution, or
20.26 person furnishing information, data, testimony, reports, or
20.27 records to the domestic fatality review team as part of an
20.28 investigation is civilly or criminally liable or subject to any
20.29 other recourse for providing the information.
20.30 Sec. 33. [REPEALER.]
20.31 Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 62D.14, subdivision 4, is
20.32 repealed.
20.33 Sec. 34. [EFFECTIVE DATE.]
20.34 Section 9 is effective July 1, 2001. Section 27 is
20.35 effective the day following final enactment and applies to
20.36 causes of action arising on or after that date.