SF 1296

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 02/23/2012 10:01am

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; requiring Department of Public Safety to maintain
database of designated persons to be contacted when licensee involved in serious
vehicle crash or emergency; amending Minnesota Statutes 2010, sections 13.69,
subdivision 1; 171.06, by adding a subdivision.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 13.69, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Classifications.

(a) The following government data of the
Department of Public Safety are private data:

(1) medical data on driving instructors, licensed drivers, and applicants for parking
certificates and special license plates issued to physically disabled persons;

(2) other data on holders of a disability certificate under section 169.345, except that
data that are not medical data may be released to law enforcement agencies;

(3) Social Security numbers in driver's license and motor vehicle registration
records, except that Social Security numbers must be provided to the Department of
Revenue for purposes of tax administration, the Department of Labor and Industry for
purposes of workers' compensation administration and enforcement, and the Department
of Natural Resources for purposes of license application administration; deleted text begin and
deleted text end

(4) data on persons listed as standby or temporary custodians under section 171.07,
subdivision 11, except that the data must be released to:

(i) law enforcement agencies for the purpose of verifying that an individual is a
designated caregiver; or

(ii) law enforcement agencies who state that the license holder is unable to
communicate at that time and that the information is necessary for notifying the designated
caregiver of the need to care for a child of the license holder new text begin ; and
new text end

new text begin (5) data on designated contact persons under section 171.06, subdivision 7, except
that data must be released to a law enforcement agency who shall notify the designated
contact person of a situation described in section 171.06, subdivision 7 new text end .

The department may release the Social Security number only as provided in clause
(3) and must not sell or otherwise provide individual Social Security numbers or lists of
Social Security numbers for any other purpose.

(b) The following government data of the Department of Public Safety are
confidential data: data concerning an individual's driving ability when that data is received
from a member of the individual's family.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2010, section 171.06, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Designated contact person. new text end

new text begin (a) The department shall offer a form,
prescribed by the commissioner, to each applicant for an original, duplicate, or renewal
instruction permit, provisional driver's license, driver's license, enhanced driver's license,
commercial driver's license, state identification card, or enhanced identification card, on
which form the applicant may designate one or more contact persons to be notified in
case of the applicant's involvement in a serious motor vehicle crash or other emergency
situation that results in the applicant's inability to communicate with the designated contact
person. The form must include the name, address, telephone number, and relationship
to the applicant of each designated contact person. A minimum of one contact person
designated by an applicant who is under 18 years of age and not emancipated, must be a
parent or legal guardian of the applicant.
new text end

new text begin (b) The department shall maintain a computer record of designations under this
subdivision. Data in the computer record are private data and must be used only as
provided in section 13.69, subdivision 1.
new text end

new text begin (c) At the request of the license holder or cardholder, the department shall modify
information in the database that was provided by the license holder or cardholder.
new text end

new text begin (d) In the event of a motor vehicle crash or other emergency situation resulting in the
inability of an identified person to communicate, a law enforcement officer shall request
from the department information in the database to identify a designated contact person.
The officer shall attempt in good faith to notify the designated contact person concerning
the crash or emergency situation.
new text end

new text begin (e) In performing duties under this subdivision, department employees and law
enforcement are conclusively presumed to be acting in good faith, are immune from civil
liability, and not subject to suit for damages.
new text end

new text begin (f) The commissioner shall adopt rules to address creation, modification, and use
of the designated contact person database.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

new text begin Sections 1 and 2 are effective July 1, 2012.
new text end