MN Data Practices Advisory Opinions Archive

July 30, 1997 · July 30, 1997; City of Roseville

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Section 13.03, has the City of Roseville responded properly to the following requests for access to government data:

Copy costs Existence of data Response to data requests #New data or different format not required

Advisory Opinion 97-030 97-030

July 18, 1997 · July 18, 1997; Blue Earth County

Is the County's investigative report public data which may be released to the press? Is the County's investigative report private data on the County Employee? Assuming that the report is private data on the County Emplo…

Personnel data #Work assignment requires access

Advisory Opinion 97-029 97-029

July 16, 1997 · July 16, 1997; University of Minnesota

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13, does Mr. Anfinson have the right to gain access to the following data maintained by the University of Minnesota from November 1, 1995, to the present: personal calendars mainta…

Schedules/calendars #Appointment calendars

Advisory Opinion 97-028 97-028

July 3, 1997 · July 3, 1997; Minnesota Department of Children, Families, Learning

Is the MARSS database, with student names and social security numbers removed, summary data under Minn. Stat. 13.01, subd. 19? If the MARSS database, with student names and social security numbers removed, is not summar…

Educational data Summary data #Combining data elements may uniquely identify an individual #Combining data elements may uniquely identify an individual #Costs #MARSS (MN Automated Reporting Student System) #Summary data

Advisory Opinion 97-027 97-027

July 2, 1997 · July 2, 1997; School District 347 (Willmar)

Must the School District release the contents of an investigation report, or additional information regarding the complaints which were the subject of the investigation which was received subsequent to the completion of…

Personnel data #Disciplinary action not taken, data not public

Advisory Opinion 97-026 97-026

June 11, 1997 · June 11, 1997; School District 203 (Hayfield)

Would the rights of a data subject be violated, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13, if a government entity provided access to the following data which appear on payroll checks: date of issue, number of check, nam…

Personnel data Requests for data #Serial requests #Time sheets or payroll

Advisory Opinion 97-025 97-025

May 30, 1997 · May 30, 1997; University of Minnesota

Has the University of Minnesota responded appropriately, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13, to Mr. Lamphere's December 23, 1996, request for access to data? Has the University of Minnesota responded appropriatel…

Civil investigative data Copy costs Existence of data Response to data requests #Civil investigative data (13.39) #Internal audit #Requestor must be informed

Advisory Opinion 97-024 97-024

May 21, 1997 · May 21, 1997; City of Winona

What is the classification of certain data, other than blood alcohol content of each of the involved individuals, maintained by the City of Winona Police Department relating to the fatal car accident which occurred on M…

Law enforcement data #Response or incident data (13.82, subd. 6 / subd. 4) #Traffic accidents (169.09)

Advisory Opinion 97-023 97-023

May 21, 1997 · May 21, 1997; City of Winona

What is the classification, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13, of the following data maintained by the City of Winona Police Department: the blood alcohol content of each of the five individuals who were involve…

Law enforcement data #13.83 #Blood alcohol content #Change in classification 13.03 #Coroner data #Medical examiner data

+1 more

#Traffic accidents (169.09)

Advisory Opinion 97-022 97-022

May 12, 1997 · May 12, 1997; Crow Wing County

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13, did the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office inappropriately disseminate private data (in March of 1996) about a data subject by disclosing the data to a member of the media? (In …

Law enforcement data #Initial crime report (ICR) #Media access policy

Advisory Opinion 97-021 97-021

May 12, 1997 · May 12, 1997; City of Fairfax

What is the classification of the following data maintained by the City of Fairfax relating to the 1993 Residential/Commercial Rehabilitation Grant: the names of recipients; the dates of receipt; and the amounts receive…

Welfare data #Benefit data

Advisory Opinion 97-020 97-020

May 7, 1997 · May 7, 1997; School District 0001 (Minneapolis)

Has Special School District No. 1, Minneapolis, responded appropriately, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13, to Ms. Morrison's request for access to the private data about her child? Has Special School District N…

Copy costs Data subjects Educational data Existence of data Requests for data Response to data requests #Curriculum materials #Data revealed in request determines entity response #Education data #Limit on frequency of access to data #Requestor must be informed

Advisory Opinion 97-019 97-019

May 7, 1997 · May 7, 1997; University of Minnesota

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Sections 13.03 and/or 13.04, did the University of Minnesota-Duluth respond appropriately to a request for access to data?

Redaction #Denial of access to data – authority required (13.03, subd. 3(f)) #Redaction (See also: Multiple data subjects; Separation of data)

Advisory Opinion 97-018 97-018

May 5, 1997 · May 5, 1997; School District 278 (Orono)

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13, must School District 278, Orono, disclose to the subject of the complaint the contents of a harassment complaint and its investigation notes detailing the allegations where the…

Educational data Multiple data subjects Personnel data #Complainant identity #Data subject access to personnel data #Harassment data (13.43, subd. 8) #Multiple data subjects #Witness identity or statement

Advisory Opinion 97-017 97-017

May 5, 1997 · May 5, 1997; School District 2071 (Lake Crystal)

Are health and medical data maintained in the personnel file of a public employee considered medical data within the meaning of Minnesota Statutes Section 13.42, or personnel data under Section 13.43? When a settlement …

Litigation Personnel data #Change in classification 13.03 #Evidentiary privilege (Chapter 595) #Medical data #Personnel files #Settlement agreements

Advisory Opinion 97-015 97-015

April 4, 1997 · April 4, 1997; Hennepin County

Were the data collected by Dr. Seymour Gross, a Hennepin County employee, from

Data subjects Educational data Tennessen warning #Commitment pre-petition screening #Limitation on collection/use of data (13.05, subd. 4)

Advisory Opinion 97-014 97-014

April 1, 1997 · April 1, 1997; City of Northfield

What is the classification of the data contained in a letter from the Rice County Attorney to the City of Northfield Police Chief regarding the City's handling of a recent murder investigation?

Civil investigative data Law enforcement data

Advisory Opinion 97-013 97-013

March 20, 1997 · March 20, 1997; Minnesota Secretary of State

Is the Secretary of State's charge of $2000 for a copy of Minnesota's voter registration database allowable under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13?

Commercial value Copy costs #Commercial value #Mailing #Special costs (1205.0300)

Advisory Opinion 97-012 97-012

March 19, 1997 · March 19, 1997; City of St. Bonifacius & Minnetrista Public Safety Department (

Pursuant to Chapter 13, may the St. Bonifacius & Minnetrista Public Safety Department charge a set fee of $25 in addition to the cost of copies of the photographs? Pursuant to Chapter 13, is it appropriate for St. Bonif…

Copy costs Law enforcement data #Actual cost - public #Flat or standard fee #Photographs #Photographs #Photographs/videotapes (See also: Law enforcement - Booking photos)

Advisory Opinion 97-011 97-011

March 11, 1997 · March 11, 1997; Moorhead State University

Has MSU complied with Minnesota Statutes Section 13.04, subdivision 3, in responding to a request for access to data made by the data subject on May 15, 1996? Has MSU improperly disseminated private educational data abo…

Educational data Responsible authority #Data subject rights of access procedures (13.05, subd. 8)/(13.025, subd. 3) #Designee appointed by Responsible Authority #Legitimate educational interest #Public document/annual report (13.05, subd. 1 and 1205.1200) #Work assignment reasonably requires access

+1 more

#Work assignment reasonably requires access (1205.0400, 1205.0600)

Advisory Opinion 97-009 97-009

March 4, 1997 · March 4, 1997; University of Minnesota

May the University of Minnesota deny access to any of the data, exchanged between the University and the law firm of Hogan & Hartson, which relate to the development of the University Board of Regents' tenure code propo…

Attorney data Litigation #Attorney data #Attorney-client privilege (595.02) #Evidentiary privilege (Chapter 595)

Advisory Opinion 97-010 97-010

March 3, 1997 · March 3, 1997; School District 2143 (Waterville-Elysian-Morristown)

What is the classification of the data contained in the arbitration award?

Personnel data #Arbitrator decision or award #Educational data, included (See also: Educational data - Personnel data) #Specific reasons and data documenting basis for action

Advisory Opinion 97-008 97-008

February 25, 1997 · February 25, 1997; City of Minneapolis

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Section 13.04, subdivision 3, has the City of Minneapolis Police Department responded appropriately to J's request for access to data about J?

Data subjects #Informed of existence/classification #Subject's right to know

Advisory Opinion 97-007 97-007

February 12, 1997 · February 12, 1997; City of Menahga

Did personnel of the City of Menahga Police Department inappropriately disseminate data about Y, a minor?

Law enforcement data #Juveniles (260.161 / 260B.171) #Security safeguards (13.05, subd. 5) #Traffic accidents (169.09)

Advisory Opinion 97-006 97-006

February 3, 1997 · February 3, 1997; School District 280 (Richfield)

What is the classification of data which document the specific reasons for and basis of the disciplinary action taken by School District #280 against an employee who failed a drug test?

Personnel data #Alcohol and drug test data

Advisory Opinions Library