HF 1942

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 02/11/2022 11:33am

A bill for an act
relating to health; authorizing access to certain birth records by an entity
administering a children's savings program; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020,
section 144.225, subdivision 2.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 144.225, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Data about births.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, data
pertaining to the birth of a child to a woman who was not married to the child's father when
the child was conceived nor when the child was born, including the original record of birth
and the certified vital record, are confidential data. At the time of the birth of a child to a
woman who was not married to the child's father when the child was conceived nor when
the child was born, the mother may designate demographic data pertaining to the birth as
public. Notwithstanding the designation of the data as confidential, it may be disclosed:

(1) to a parent or guardian of the child;

(2) to the child when the child is 16 years of age or older;

(3) under paragraph (b), (e), deleted text begin or deleted text end (f) new text begin , or (g) new text end ; or

(4) pursuant to a court order. For purposes of this section, a subpoena does not constitute
a court order.

(b) Unless the child is adopted, data pertaining to the birth of a child that are not accessible
to the public become public data if 100 years have elapsed since the birth of the child who
is the subject of the data, or as provided under section 13.10, whichever occurs first.

(c) If a child is adopted, data pertaining to the child's birth are governed by the provisions
relating to adoption records, including sections 13.10, subdivision 5; 144.218, subdivision
1; 144.2252; and 259.89.

(d) The name and address of a mother under paragraph (a) and the child's date of birth
may be disclosed to the county social services, tribal health department, or public health
member of a family services collaborative for purposes of providing services under section
124D.23.

(e) The commissioner of human services shall have access to birth records for:

(1) the purposes of administering medical assistance and the MinnesotaCare program;

(2) child support enforcement purposes; and

(3) other public health purposes as determined by the commissioner of health.

(f) Tribal child support programs shall have access to birth records for child support
enforcement purposes.

new text begin (g) An entity administering a children's savings program that starts at birth shall have
access to birth records for the purpose of opening an account in the program for the child
as a beneficiary. For purposes of this paragraph, "children's savings program" means a
long-term savings or investment program that helps children and their families build savings
for the future.
new text end