Advisory Opinions Library
Search and research 1,071 opinions published by the Minnesota Department of Administration (1993–present). New to the legal archive? Try Exploring by topic.
Narrow down within “Government Structure & Administration”
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Advisory Opinion 26-008 26-008A government entity asked whether a specific employee was considered a
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Advisory Opinion 26-005 26-005The Commissioner opined that the City of Minneapolis did not respond appropriately to a request for body camera data, classified by Minnesota Statutes, section 13.825 as nonpublic, that document the requester’s home and…
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Advisory Opinion 26-004 26-004A city asked about the classification of data about its former police chief. The data involved comments received in response to an employee survey that raised concerns about the chief, who ultimately resigned after the …
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Advisory Opinion 26-003 26-003A school district asked about the classification of data it maintained in an investigative report about the alleged misconduct of a school board member. The district noted that it had not made a clear determination on w…
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Advisory Opinion 25-005 25-005A member of the public asked whether a state agency responded appropriately to a data request for
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Advisory Opinion 25-004 25-004A City asked whether Minnesota Statutes, section 13.685 classifies data about a future municipal electric utility customer. The Commissioner determined that an individual or entity is a customer of the municipal electri…
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Advisory Opinion 24-003 24-003A school district asked whether emails and similar written correspondence regarding school district business that were sent between school board members were classified as private data under Minnesota Statutes, section …
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Advisory Opinion 24-002 24-002A member of the public asked whether a city responded appropriately to a request for its data access policies. The Commissioner opined that the city did not respond appropriately because it appeared that the city did no…
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Advisory Opinion 22-006 22-006A city asked whether data it collected, created, and maintained pursuant to a contract with a private entity were government data, subject to the Data Practices Act. The Commissioner opined that the data were government…
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Advisory Opinion 22-001 22-001A member of the public asked whether a joint powers entity responded appropriately to a request for a copy of its data access policies as well as to a request for data about himself made pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, …
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Advisory Opinion 21-002 21-002A member of the public made a data request to a school district. She requested a copy of the recording of a school district open meeting. The school district denied access to the recording, indicating the recording cont…
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Advisory Opinion 20-006 20-006The City of Savage requested an advisory opinion regarding the classification of email addresses it collected to notify the public of information to participate in a town hall event. The Commissioner opined that the pla…
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Advisory Opinion 19-007 19-007A member of the public asked whether the Houston County Agricultural Society (“Society”) is subject to both the Data Practices Act and the Open Meeting Law. The Society conceded it is subject to the Open Meeting Law, bu…
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Advisory Opinion 19-002 19-002A member of the public asked if a state board was in compliance with the Data Practices Act if it did not provide access to the policies required under Minnesota Statutes, section 13.025. The board did not reply to the …
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Advisory Opinion 19-001 19-001A city asked whether it responded appropriately to a data request for information from a Facebook page maintained by the mayor, when it replied to the requester that the information was not government data. The Commissi…
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Advisory Opinion 18-013 18-013The Star Tribune asked the Commissioner about the classification of correspondence between a County Commissioner and the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC). The Commissioner relied on the reasoning of A…
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Advisory Opinion 18-001 18-001A state agency asked about the classification of data in an arbitrator’s order reversing all discipline of a public official. The Commissioner opined that Minn. Stat. § 13.43, subd. 2(e) classified the data as public. R…
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Advisory Opinion 17-007 17-007a member of the public asked about determinations a county made regarding the appointment of county responsible authorities [“RAs”] and data practices compliance officials [“DPCOs”]. The Commissioner opined that the cou…
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Advisory Opinion 14-019 14-019A state agency asked about its classification of data determination related to an internal audit of one of its grantees, including supporting documentation and other documents collected as part of the audit. The grantee…
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Advisory Opinion 14-008 14-008A School District planned to fill an open seat on its school board by appointment. The media asked for public data about the applicants under Minnesota Statutes, section 13.601. The District first responded that the dat…
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Advisory Opinion 13-010 13-010A member of the public sought access from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety/ Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (DPS/BCA) Archive Service Repository to certain license plate data. BCA and the local law enforcement …
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Advisory Opinion 13-007 13-007A member of the public requested a school district’s data practices access policies and procedures required by sections 13.025 and 13.03. The district replied that it did not maintain a single written document that deta…
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Advisory Opinion 12-018 12-018A member of the public asked whether an entity improperly released private data about a board member. At the time it released data to the public, the entity’s human resources director considered board members to be enti…
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Advisory Opinion 12-012 12-012A County asked about the classification of the name and cancelled check of a donor to a County project who wished to remain anonymous. The Commissioner determined that the data are not classified under Minnesota Statute…
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Advisory Opinion 12-007 12-007A city asked about the classification of certain data it collected and maintained about a candidate for public office. The candidate submitted an Affidavit of Candidacy and a copy of her driver’s license as proof of res…