MN Data Practices Advisory Opinions Archive

October 7, 1999 · October 7, 1999; City of Fairmont

What is the classification of the following data maintained by the City of Fairmont Police Department: data contained in the Master Name and Incident Listing?

Law enforcement data #Firearms (13.87, subd. 2 / 13.36) #Law enforcement data #Master name index (MNI)

Advisory Opinion 99-029 99-029

September 10, 1999 · September 10, 1999; University of Minnesota

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13, did the University of Minnesota properly withhold from the public certain data contained in a report entitled

Civil investigative data Educational data #Chief attorney has substantial discretion to determine #Civil investigative data (13.39) #Personnel data included (See also: Personnel data - educational data)

Advisory Opinion 99-016 99-016

June 18, 1999 · June 18, 1999; Minnesota State College and University System

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13, did the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) appropriately deny access to data based on section 13.39, civil investigative data?

Civil investigative data Personnel data #Civil investigative data (13.39) #Identification of chief attorney

Advisory Opinion 98-042 98-042

September 2, 1998 · September 2, 1998; Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13 and Section 181.932, would the rights of certain Koch Refining Company employees be violated if the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency released, to the public, data contained in…

Civil investigative data Data subjects Educational data Statutory construction (Ch. 645) Tennessen warning Tennessen warning #Absurd or unreasonable result (645.17) #Individual vs. person (13.02, subd. 4, 5 and 10) #Law enforcement agencies exempt #Limitation on collection/use of data (13.05, subd. 4) #Pollution Control Agency

+2 more

#Tennessen and whistleblower law #Whistleblowers (181.932)

Advisory Opinion 98-017 98-017

April 17, 1998 · April 17, 1998; City of Eagan

Was an individual's right to gain access to public data, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13, violated because the City of Eagan denied her access to the following data: appraisals prepared for the Oak Chase Addit…

Civil investigative data #Chief attorney has substantial discretion to determine #Relationship to Chapter 13

Advisory Opinion 98-014 98-014

April 1, 1998 · April 1, 1998; Stearns County

Would it violate a data subject's rights for a county attorney to disseminate data obtained in juvenile court delinquency and petty offense proceedings to the law enforcement agency whose officer signed the delinquency …

Law enforcement data #Court records (See also: Judicial branch) #Juveniles (260.161 / 260B.171)

Advisory Opinion 98-004 98-004

January 30, 1998 · January 30, 1998; School District 2862 (Jackson County Central)

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13, what is the classification of the data contained in the Level II Sex Offender notification fact sheet? If a Level II Sex Offender notification fact sheet contains private data,…

Law enforcement data #Sex offender #Sex offender

Advisory Opinion 97-050 97-050

December 19, 1997 · December 19, 1997; School District 347 (Willmar)

Would it be a violation of students' rights under Minnesota Statutes Sections 13.32 if School District #347, Willmar, disseminated (without obtaining either consent or a court order) the following data to law enforcemen…

Educational data Law enforcement data #Educational data disclosure #Health and safety emergency #Law enforcement/juvenile justice system

Advisory Opinion 97-038 97-038

September 23, 1997 · September 23, 1997; City of Lakeville

Has the City of Lakeville Police Department complied with Minnesota Statutes Section 13.04, subdivision 3, in charging a data subject $6.50 ($5 for the first page and $.50 for each additional page) for copies of data co…

Copy costs Law enforcement data

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 97-014 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 97-012 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 97-007 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 96-057 96-057

December 11, 1996 · December 11, 1996; Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13, is Mr. Claypatch entitled to gain access to copies of the certified payroll records of Total Fire Protection, Inc., on the Byrne and Neil elementary school projects?

Civil investigative data Records management/retention #Civil investigative data (13.39) #Labor and Industry Department #Records retention schedule

Advisory Opinion 96-052 96-052

December 2, 1996 · December 2, 1996; City of St. Paul

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Section 13.82, subdivision 3a, may N listen, free of charge, to the audiotape of the 911 telephone call placed by N? Pursuant to Section 13.82, subdivision 3a, may N view, free of charge,…

Copy costs Inspection Law enforcement data #911 audiotape #911 tape transcript #Law enforcement (13.82)

Advisory Opinion 96-044 96-044

October 23, 1996 · October 23, 1996; Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry

Does Mr. Lennes, on behalf of his client Builders Staff Corporation, have the right to gain access to Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry data provided by the California Department of Industrial Relations that re…

Civil investigative data Litigation #Civil investigative data (13.39) #Other states' laws #Pending legal actions

Advisory Opinion 96-043 96-043

October 18, 1996 · October 18, 1996; City of St. Paul

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13, are the notes made by Officer Johnson regarding his response to the 911 call made by N accessible to N?

Copy costs Existence of data Law enforcement data Response to data requests #Data does not exist #Law enforcement (13.82)

Advisory Opinion 96-033 96-033

July 29, 1996 · July 29, 1996; City of Brainerd

If an agreement exists which allows members of the media to inspect certain not public government data, does such an agreement violate the rights, provided by Chapter 13, of the subjects of the not public data?

Law enforcement data #Media access policy

Advisory Opinion 96-011 96-011

March 6, 1996 · March 6, 1996; Minnesota Department of Human Services

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Section 13.05, subdivision 4, and Minnesota Rules Part 1205.1300, how may DHS use and/or disseminate the data which relate to K's commitment as a minor, contained on the

Data subjects Educational data Law enforcement data Legislative authority and intent Tennessen warning Welfare data #Authority to regulate data practices #Classification at time of request, controls access (13.03, subd. 9) #Commitment pre-petition screening #Firearms background check #Limitation on collection and use of private/confidential data (13.05, subd. 4)

+2 more

#State hospital directory information #Tennessen warning notice (13.04, subd. 2)

Advisory Opinion 96-008 96-008

February 5, 1996 · February 5, 1996; Minnesota Department of Public Safety

What is the classification of data collected and maintained by the Capitol Complex Security Division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety relating to a request from an individual for an automobile ride?

Law enforcement data Security information #Request for service data (13.82, subd. 3) #Response or incident data (13.82, subd. 6 / subd. 4) #Security information (13.37, subds. 1(a), 2) #Security service data (13.861) #Security service data/Capitol Security (13.861)

Advisory Opinion 95-054 95-054

December 20, 1995 · December 20, 1995; City of Minneapolis

May the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority treat the survey of family housing project residents as civil investigative data, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Section 13.39?

Civil investigative data #Civil investigative data (13.39)

Advisory Opinion 95-050 95-050

December 1, 1995 · December 1, 1995; City of Brooklyn Park

What is the classification of data collected and maintained by the City of Brooklyn Park's Housing Inspection Division (e.g. data relating to the Division's enforcement of city ordinances and laws regulating housing mai…

Civil investigative data Licensing data Statutory construction (Ch. 645) #Civil investigative data (13.39) #Housing inspection data #Later enacted statute #Licensing data (13.41)

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