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HF2739 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Changes made to various sections of the Government Data Practices Act.

Related bill: SF2885

AI Generated Summary

Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to amend various sections of the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act and the Official Records Act. The amendments aim to update and clarify the policies surrounding the management, protection, and dissemination of government records and data, including ensuring data privacy and security.

Main Provisions

  1. Data on Individuals:

    • The bill mandates procedures to ensure all personal data collected by government entities is accurate, complete, and current.
    • It establishes security safeguards to ensure that non-public data is only accessed by authorized individuals and for approved purposes. A policy for sharing data with other government entities, when allowed by law, is to be developed.
    • Non-public data must be destroyed securely to prevent recovery.

  2. Online Contact Information:

    • Makes personal contact information collected for government notifications or subscriptions private. This includes telephone numbers, email addresses, and online account details.
    • Such data is limited to use by the government entity for communication or performing health, safety, welfare functions, or providing services.

  3. Library Records:

    • Library records linking patrons to materials are deemed private and can only be disclosed for library purposes, unless required by a court order.
    • Allows family members to pick up reserved materials on behalf of a patron unless the patron requests otherwise.

  4. Record Keeping:

    • Requires that all public agencies maintain records that provide a full and accurate account of their activities.
    • Records can be reproduced by various methods unless deemed to be of permanent or archival value.
    • Reproduced records and their certified or exemplified copies are considered as valid as originals in legal proceedings.

  5. Records Disposition Panel:

    • Shifts the responsibility to decide the destruction, preservation, or reproduction of records to a specific panel, which includes the legislative auditor and director of the Minnesota Historical Society.
    • Reproduced records are treated as originals for legal purposes.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

  • Strengthens security measures and privacy for data related to individuals.
  • Expands the type of personal information that is considered private when interacting with government electronic communications.
  • Provides clear guidance on the handling and reproduction of government records, ensuring their legality and admissibility in court.

Relevant Terms

government data practices, data privacy, records management, personal contact information, online account data, library records privacy, records reproduction, evidence admissibility, state archives, records disposition.

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 23, 2025HouseFloorActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toJudiciary Finance and Civil Law

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Clarification on security safeguards for records containing data on individuals."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "This bill modifies data protection procedures under section 13.05.",
      "modified": [
        "Procedures for ensuring data not public are only accessed by authorized personnel."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "13.05",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 5"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Clarification on communication and service provision purposes using data provided."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "This bill revises the classification and usage of personal contact and online account information under section 13.356.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarifies the application of data classification to online account-related data."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "13.356",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Provision for releasing reserved materials to family members or residing persons."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "This section discusses privacy data for library borrowers under section 13.40.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarifies which data may not be disclosed without a court order except for library purposes."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "13.40",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Empowerment for reproduction and substitution of records by photographic or other means."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "This section pertains to the preservation and reproduction of records under section 15.17.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarification on admissibility and evidence weight of reproduced records."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "15.17",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Clarification on the majority vote requirement for the Records Disposition Panel."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "This section involves the Records Disposition Panel and procedures for destruction or preservation of records under section 138.17.",
      "modified": [
        "Explains the terms and conditions under which government records may be disposed of or preserved."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "138.17",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1"
  }
]

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