HF 3619

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/12/2018 02:16pm

A bill for an act
relating to state government; creating a task force to study algorithms for public
health and safety.

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

Section 1. new text begin INTERNET ALGORITHM FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY TASK
FORCE.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment; purpose. new text end

new text begin The state chief information officer shall establish
a task force to study the scope and implications of internet algorithms for public health
safety, with a special focus on the implications for the opioid epidemic. The task force shall:
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new text begin (1) raise awareness on legal and related public policy aspects of internet algorithms
principally at the state level;
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new text begin (2) promote understanding of policy avenues and developments regarding social
responsibility as it relates to algorithms' impacts on public health and safety; and
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new text begin (3) provide recommendations on how the state should respond to the impacts on public
health and safety arising from the increased use of algorithms and machine learning.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin The task force shall explore the following areas of inquiry:
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new text begin (1) review mechanisms that enable questioning and redress for individuals and groups
that are adversely affected by algorithmically informed decisions that relate to public health
and safety, with a special emphasis on the opioid epidemic;
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new text begin (2) how the companies, systems, and institutions using algorithmic decision making
should be held accountable for both the procedures followed by the algorithm and the
specific decisions made based on those algorithms; and
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new text begin (3) review the feasibility of private and public algorithmic accountability and transparency
models, policies, and mechanisms, including but not limited to:
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new text begin (i) auditability of models, algorithms, data and decisions;
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new text begin (ii) certification for creators of algorithms;
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new text begin (iii) code of conduct covering the use of algorithms; and
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new text begin (iv) algorithmic auditing processes.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Task force members; organization. new text end

new text begin (a) The state chief information officer in
consultation with the commissions of health and public safety shall appoint 14 members to
the task force including those individuals with expertise in the areas of fairness, anti-abuse
and compliance, accountability and transparency relating to automated decision systems,
and individuals affiliated with nonprofit and social service organizations that represent
individuals in the state affected by automated decision systems.
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new text begin (b) The state chief information officer shall convene the first meeting by October 15,
2018. The task force shall meet at least monthly. The task force shall elect a chair at the
first meeting and elect any other officers the task force deems necessary. Members of the
task force shall serve without compensation.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Staff. new text end

new text begin The Office of MN.IT Services shall provide support staff, office space,
and administrative services for the task force.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin By October 15, 2020, the task force shall submit a report to the governor
and the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction
over technology, health care, and public safety. The report shall include at a minimum,
information on:
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new text begin (1) identification of the different types of harm that might be afflicted upon consumers,
including but not limited to public health and patient safety threats with an emphasis on
illegal online sales of controlled substances, illicit drugs, and prescription medicines; and
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new text begin (2) recommendations on:
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new text begin (i) how public and private sectors can work collectively together to determine what kind
of policy and regulatory corrections may help to address these problems;
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new text begin (ii) how to promote models and public health and safety solutions that facilitate the
inclusion of underserved, underrepresented groups;
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new text begin (iii) how to promote availability of fair, open data sets for algorithmic models;
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new text begin (iv) best practices in standards, accountability, and transparency of policies and
algorithms, and the uses of data and privacy and proxy services, and of WHOIS query and
response protocols;
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new text begin (v) regulations and policy reforms;
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new text begin (vi) how best to engage and inform consumers on the risks associated with algorithmic
decision making and data transparency and the implications for public health and safety;
and
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new text begin (vii) how to ensure transparency of WHOIS data for persons or entities engaged in
commercial activity online.
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new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Expiration. new text end

new text begin The task force in this section expires on October 15, 2020.
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