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The advisory opinion library currently includes:
  • Data practices advisory opinions issued by the Commissioner of Administration from 1993 to the present.
  • Open Meeting Law advisory opinions issued by the Commissioner of Administration from 2003 to the present.
The Commissioner's authority is found in Minnesota Statutes, section 13.072. Opinions are nonbinding, but a court may give them deference in a court action. Parties to a court action that act in conformity with an advisory opinion are not liable for certain damages or attorneys fees.
A written, numbered, and published opinion issued by the attorney general shall take precedence over an advisory opinion issued by the Commissioner of Administration.
Results 1 - 10 of 17
This is an opinion of the Commissioner of Administration issued pursuant to section 13.072 of Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13 - the Minnesota Government Data ...
Description: Did the Saint Paul Public Housing Agency comply with Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13, in denying a tenant access to copies of complaints made against the tenant?
Category: Welfare data
Keywords: Welfare data, Benefit data
Commissioner: Dana B. Badgerow
Note: This opinion has been edited to correct inaccuracies. This is an opinion of the Commissioner of Administration issued pursuant to section 13.072 of Minnesota ...
Description: What is the classification of the following data that Anoka County maintains: data indicating all licensed child care providers who have received child care assistance payment for services rendered in the past month?
Category: Licensing data, Welfare data
Keywords: Licensing data, Welfare data, Daycare, child care provider, Licensing data
Commissioner: Dana B. Badgerow
This is an opinion of the Commissioner of Administration issued pursuant to section 13.072 of Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13 - the Minnesota Government Data ...
Description: Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13, did Rice County respond appropriately to a July 22, 2002, request for access to data?
Category: Data subjects, Educational data, Legislative authority and intent, Multiple data subjects
Keywords: Data subjects, Educational data, Legislative authority and intent, Multiple data subjects, Data incidental to the data subject, Spouse access to other spouse’s data, Parent access to data on child, Social services/welfare data, Parent access to data on other parent, Access by data subject or parent
Commissioner: David F. Fisher
This is an opinion of the Commissioner of Administration issued pursuant to section 13.072 of Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13 - the Minnesota Government Data ...
Description: Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13, did the Ramsey County Attorney's Office appropriately deny a request for access to the name of an individual who was reported by the County to have paid $167,000 in back child-support?
Category: Attorney data, Requests for data, Welfare data
Keywords: Attorney data, Requests for data, Welfare data, Responsible authority duties, Data request vs. question/inquiry, Child support, Investigative data, Welfare system
Commissioner: David F. Fisher
Note: This opinion has been edited to correct inaccuracies. This is an opinion of the Commissioner of Administration issued pursuant to section 13.072 of Minnesota ...
Description: Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 13.46, did the Minnesota Department of Human Services respond appropriately to a request for data gathered in connection with the day care licensing process?
Category: Legislative authority and intent, Licensing data, Welfare data
Keywords: Legislative authority and intent, Licensing data, Welfare data, Welfare data, Welfare data (13.46), Daycare, child care provider, Licensing data, Vendor
Commissioner: David F. Fisher
This is an opinion of the Commissioner of Administration issued pursuant to section 13.072 of Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13 - the Minnesota Government Data ...
Description: Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13, has the Office of the Ombudsman for Mental Health and Mental Retardation responded properly to a January 16, 1998 (later clarified in a letter dated March 31, 1998), request for access to the following data collected/created/received from January 1, 1994, to present: a version of the Death Review Index that includes the names of the dead persons; and copies of reports and other documents concerning death cases (those under full or limited review) that were created or compiled by the Ombudsman's office after the death of the subject?
Category: Response to data requests, Welfare data
Keywords: Response to data requests, Welfare data, Decedents (13.10), Decedents, Ombudsman for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities (245.91 - 245.97), No change in classification (13.03, subd. 4(c))
Commissioner: Elaine S. Hansen
This is an opinion of the Commissioner of Administration issued pursuant to section 13.072 of Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13 - the Minnesota Government Data ...
Description: Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Section 13.04, subdivision 3, has Mower County responded properly to a July 23, 1997, request for access to data about the deceased data subject?
Category: Welfare data, Response to data requests
Keywords: Welfare data, Response to data requests, Decedents (13.10)
Commissioner: Elaine S. Hansen
This is an opinion of the Commissioner of Administration issued pursuant to section 13.072 of Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13 - the Minnesota Government Data ...
Description: 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 received?
Category: Welfare data
Keywords: Welfare data, Benefit data
Commissioner: Elaine S. Hansen
This is an opinion of the Commissioner of Administration issued pursuant to section 13.072 of Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13 - the Minnesota Government Data ...
Description: What is the classification of the following data maintained by the Metropolitan Airports Commission: the names and addresses of the 149 homeowners whose houses were blower door tested since October of 1995?
Category: Welfare data
Keywords: Welfare data, Benefit data
Commissioner: Elaine S. Hansen
This is an opinion of the Commissioner of Administration issued pursuant to section 13.072 of Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13 - the Minnesota Government Data ...
Description: Is L entitled to gain access to the medical records of L's two minor children that are maintained by Southwest Family Services?
Category: Data subjects, Educational data, Welfare data
Keywords: Data subjects, Educational data, Welfare data, Patient records (144.335, subd. 3a / 144.293), Social services/welfare data, Rule 29 facilities
Commissioner: Elaine S. Hansen
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