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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 - 9 of 9
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 Carver County comply with Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13, in its response to a December 12, 2007, request for the cost justification for its plat map pricing?
Category: Commercial value, Copy costs
Keywords: Commercial value, Copy costs, Commercial value
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, are the following components of the Nobles County policy regarding public access to the "feedlot inventory" allowable: a) Requestor must submit a written application; b) There is a five-day waiting period; c) The cost is $250; d) Requestor must pick up copy in person; and e) Copy is available in printed format only?
Category: Commercial value, Copy costs, Requests for data
Keywords: Commercial value, Copy costs, Requests for data, Commercial value, Easily accessible for convenient use (13.03, subd. 1), Reason/justify request and identity not required (13.05, subd. 12), Written requests, procedures may require
Commissioner: Brian J. Lamb
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 Minnesota Secretary of State Office (OSS) responded appropriately to a request to inspect - via downloading - the following data: all UCCs, tax liens, and many other public records? The requestor wishes to download the data from the OSS using his own equipment and staff.
Category: Commercial value, Copy costs, Electronic data, Inspection, Legislative authority and intent
Keywords: Commercial value, Copy costs, Electronic data, Inspection, Legislative authority and intent, Commercial value, Copies made by requestor, Enhanced data, Subscription fees, Inspection vs. copying, in general, Personal electronic device used, Electronic files, website, Remote access
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, section 13.03, subdivision 3, clauses (c) and (d), has the City of St. Paul sufficiently justified its charge of $600 for a copy of public data in the database for vehicles towed to the City's impound lot from 1996 through March 2001?
Category: Commercial value, Copy costs, Legislative authority and intent, Requests for data, Statutory construction (Ch. 645)
Keywords: Commercial value, Copy costs, Legislative authority and intent, Requests for data, Statutory construction (Ch. 645), Commercial value, Commercial value of data, Requestor responsibility, Absurd or unreasonable result (645.17)
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, section 13.03, subdivision 3(d), has Hennepin County sufficiently justified its charge of $13,703 for an electronic copy of the County's property tax records?
Category: Commercial value, Copy costs
Keywords: Commercial value, Copy costs, Commercial value
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: Are the Minnesota Department of Public Safety's - specifically the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension's - charges of 1) $250 for a copy of the criminal history database and 2) $15 for a copy of a background check, allowable under Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13?
Category: Commercial value, Copy costs, Legislative authority and intent
Keywords: Commercial value, Copy costs, Legislative authority and intent, Background checks, Justification of costs, Commercial value, Criminal history/justice data (13.87), Commercial value of data
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: Is the Secretary of State's charge of $2000 for a copy of Minnesota's voter registration database allowable under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13?
Category: Commercial value, Copy costs
Keywords: Commercial value, Copy costs, Mailing, Commercial value, Special costs (1205.0300)
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: 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?
Category: Commercial value, Copy costs, Inspection
Keywords: Commercial value, Copy costs, Inspection, Commercial value, Free of charge
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 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?
Category: Commercial value, Copy costs, Legislative authority and intent
Keywords: Commercial value, Copy costs, Legislative authority and intent, Commercial value, Copyright, Intellectual property (See also: Proprietary information), Intellectual property/copyright
Commissioner: Debra Rae Anderson
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