2007 Minnesota Statutes

363A.35 ACCESS TO CASE FILES.
    Subdivision 1. General provisions. Notwithstanding section 13.39, and except as provided
in section 363A.06, subdivision 4, and 363A.28, subdivision 9, the availability of human rights
investigative data to persons other than department employees is governed by this section.
    Subd. 2. Access to open files. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, human
rights investigative data contained in an open case file are confidential data on individuals or
protected nonpublic data. The name and address of the charging party and respondent, factual
basis of the allegations, and the statute under which the action is brought are private data on
individuals or nonpublic data but are accessible to the charging party and the respondent.
(b) After a charge has been filed, the commissioner may disclose information to persons as
the commissioner deems necessary (1) to facilitate investigation or disposition of the charge, or
(2) to promote public health or safety. The commissioner may also disclose data about an open
case file to another governmental entity to assist that entity or the department in processing a
complaint or to eliminate duplication of efforts in the investigation of the same or similar facts as
alleged in the charge. To the extent that data are disclosed to other governmental entities, it must
be stipulated that section 13.03, subdivision 4, applies to the classification of the data.
(c) After making a finding of probable cause, the commissioner may make human rights
investigative data contained in an open case file accessible to a person, government agency, or the
public if access will aid the investigative and enforcement process.
    Subd. 3. Access to closed files. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, human
rights investigative data contained in a closed case file are private data on individuals or nonpublic
data. The name and address of the charging party and respondent, factual basis of the allegations,
the statute under which the action is brought, the part of the summary of the investigation that
does not contain identifying data on a person other than the complainant or respondent, and the
commissioner's memorandum determining whether probable cause has been shown are public
data.
(b) The commissioner may make human rights investigative data contained in a closed case
file inaccessible to the charging party or the respondent in order to protect medical or other
security interests of the parties or third persons.
    Subd. 4. Charging party access. Data comprised of materials and documentation provided
by a charging party that is part of an open or closed case file is accessible to the charging party in
accordance with section 13.04, subdivision 3. The charging party may consent to the release of
the data to the charging party's attorney or other legal representative.
History: 1Sp1985 c 13 s 327; 1988 c 670 s 13; 1995 c 259 art 1 s 52; 1997 c 172 s 1,2;
2001 c 194 s 4