MN Data Practices Advisory Opinions Archive

June 21, 1999 · June 21, 1999; St. Cloud State University

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13, may the St. Cloud State University Human Resources Office impose the fees indicated on its

Copy costs #Minimum charge not allowed

Advisory Opinion 99-005 99-005

April 2, 1999 · April 2, 1999; Douglas County

Did Douglas County respond properly to a request for access to public data regarding a County employee's termination?

Copy costs Existence of data Response to data requests #Mental impressions (See: Keezer v. Spickard, 493 N.W.2d 614) #New data or different format not required

Advisory Opinion 98-039 98-039

August 10, 1998 · August 10, 1998; Minnesota Department of Public Safety

Is the Minnesota Department of Public Safety's charge of $1.50 per page for copies of public government data allowable under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13?

Copy costs Existence of data #Cost of creating new data

Advisory Opinion 98-037 98-037

July 29, 1998 · July 29, 1998; City of Wanamingo

Pursuant to Minnesota Statues Chapter 13, is the City of Wanamingo's charge for copies of public data allowable: $.25 per page plus the cost of the time involved to retrieve, compile and copy documents?

Copy costs Response to data requests

Advisory Opinion 97-046 97-046

November 3, 1997 · November 3, 1997; City of St. Paul

Has the City of St. Paul complied with the requirements of Minnesota Statutes Section 13.03, subdivision 3, in charging $1,020.60 for copies of public data?

Copy costs Existence of data #Cost of creating new data #Telephone records/bills

Advisory Opinion 97-042 97-042

October 9, 1997 · October 9, 1997; Hennepin County

Did Hennepin County Medical Center comply with the requirements of Minnesota Statutes Section 13.04, subdivision 3, in charging a data subject's representative $19.08 for copies of the data subject's medical data?

Copy costs #Medical data (144.335 / 144.291-144.298) #Patient records (144.335, subd. 3a / 144.293)

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 97-031 97-031

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 97-025 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 97-020 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 97-013 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 97-005 97-005

January 31, 1997 · January 31, 1997; Carver County

Is it appropriate, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Section 13.03, subdivision 3, for Carver County to charge a fee for inspection of public data? Has Carver County responded to a request for access to public data within …

Copy costs Litigation #Data involved in litigation #Prepayment

Advisory Opinion 96-064 96-064

December 31, 1996 · December 31, 1996; Douglas County

Is Mr. Fiecke entitled to gain access to all public data the Douglas County Sheriff's Department maintains about Jerry Werner, an employee of the Department? Is Douglas County's photocopy charge of

Copy costs #Justification of costs

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 96-051 96-051

December 2, 1996 · December 2, 1996; City of Elk River

Has the City of Elk River complied with the requirements of Minnesota Statutes Section 13.04, subdivision 3, regarding access to data by a data subject? Is the City's photocopy charge to a data subject of $5.00 for the…

Copy costs Requests for data #Data subject rights of access procedures (13.05, subd. 8)/(13.025, subd. 3) #Employee wage/labor cost #To responsible authority or designated person, required

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 96-037 96-037

August 14, 1996 · August 14, 1996; Douglas County

Are Douglas County's copying charges of $.50 per page, and $40.46 per hour preparation fee, allowable under Minnesota Statutes Section 13.04, subdivision 3, and Minnesota Rules Part 1205.0400?

Copy costs #No charge to search/retrieve/redact

Advisory Opinion 95-053 95-053

December 11, 1995 · December 11, 1995; Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Is a government entity authorized, under Chapter 13, to charge sales tax as part of the

Copy costs #Sales tax excluded

Advisory Opinion 95-044 95-044

November 1, 1995 · November 1, 1995; Scott County

Does a copy charge of $10.00 per photograph represent the

Copy costs #Actual cost - public #Photographs #Photographs

Advisory Opinion 95-043 95-043

October 31, 1995 · October 31, 1995; Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings

Does a copy charge of $1.00 per page represent the

Copy costs #Actual cost - public #Office of administrative hearings OAH

Advisory Opinion 95-025 95-025

May 25, 1995 · May 25, 1995; City of Vadnais Heights

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13, is Vadnais Heights required to calculate the amount of a pending assessment on a particular parcel of property when a member of the public so requests?

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

Advisory Opinion 95-011 95-011

March 10, 1995 · March 10, 1995; City of Blaine

Does a member of the public have the right, under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13, to inspect free of charge, records of a city relating to pending and levied assessments?

Commercial value Copy costs Inspection #Commercial value #Free of charge

Advisory Opinion 94-059 94-059

December 30, 1994 · December 30, 1994; City of Rosemount

Is it reasonable and justifiable for Rosemount to charge Mr. Walsh for copies of data he did not request? Is a copy charge of $.50 per page reasonable and justifiable?

Copy costs #Operating expenses excluded #Sales tax excluded

Advisory Opinion 94-057 94-057

December 28, 1994 · December 28, 1994; Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Is the position of the Department of Natural Resources that it can limit Mr. Boe's use of public data in compliance with the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act?

Commercial value Copy costs Legislative authority and intent #Commercial value #Copyright #Intellectual property (See also: Proprietary information) #Intellectual property/copyright

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