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HF1596 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Government data classification of investigative information pertaining to certain Metropolitan Council personnel modified.

AI Generated Summary

This bill seeks to amend Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 13.43, subdivision 2, to modify the classification of government data related to investigations involving certain Metropolitan Council personnel.

Key Provisions:

  1. Identifies specific Metropolitan Council officials (e.g., chair, regional administrator, general counsel, executive heads of divisions, and chief law enforcement officer of the Metropolitan Transit Police) as public officials for data classification purposes.

  2. Establishes that data related to a complaint or charge against a public official becomes public after an investigation is completed or if the official resigns or is terminated while an investigation is pending, unless:

    • The data would jeopardize an active investigation or
    • The data would reveal confidential sources.

  3. Makes investigative data public only if:

    • The complaint or charge results in disciplinary action, or
    • The official resigns or is terminated while the complaint is pending, or
    • Potential legal claims are resolved as part of a settlement agreement.

  4. Ensures that this amendment does not override other laws that classify certain data as confidential or not public.

Summary Impact:

  • This bill increases transparency by making certain investigative data of Metropolitan Council officials publicly accessible under specified conditions.
  • It aligns the treatment of Metropolitan Council personnel with regulations governing other public officials in Minnesota.

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
February 25, 2025HouseFloorActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toJudiciary Finance and Civil Law
February 25, 2025HouseFloorActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toJudiciary Finance and Civil Law
March 23, 2025HouseFloorActionCommittee report, to adopt as amended and re-refer toElections Finance and Government Operations
March 31, 2025HouseFloorActionCommittee report, to adopt
March 31, 2025HouseFloorActionSecond reading

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill modifies the classification of government data pertaining to Metropolitan Council personnel under section 13.43.",
      "modified": [
        "Changes data classification and access related to disciplinary actions and complaints against certain employees."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "13.43",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill references specific requirements for agreements involving public funds under section 123B.143.",
      "modified": [
        "Includes specificity in agreements settling employment disputes involving over $10,000 of public money."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "123B.143",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill refers to the member appointments of the Metropolitan Council as outlined in section 473.123.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarifies roles and definitions within the Metropolitan Council."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "473.123",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 3"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill makes references to the chief law enforcement officer appointments as per section 473.407.",
      "modified": [
        "Specifies roles of the chief law enforcement officer in the Metropolitan Transit Police."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "473.407",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 4"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill references the appointment of the regional administrator of the Metropolitan Council under section 473.125.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "473.125",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill references required employee disclosures in political subdivisions under section 471.701.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "471.701",
    "subdivision": ""
  }
]

Sponsors