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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 - 5 of 5
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, what is the classification of cell phone records of a current or former employee that the Minnesota Department of Military Affairs maintains?
Category: Personal data/devices, Personnel data
Keywords: Personal data/devices, Personnel data, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Government data (13.02, subd. 7), Personal data excluded, Military Affairs Department (MDMA), National Guard, Minnesota, Cell phones, Specific reasons and data documenting basis for action, Phone records, Telephone records/bills
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: Are the following data, maintained by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, classified as trade secret pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Section 13.37: data contained in a proposed Power Purchase Agreement between Northern States Power and the Minnesota Valley Alfalfa Producers?
Category: Trade secret
Keywords: Trade secret, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Proprietary information (See also: Intellectual property), Statute supersedes rule, Commissioner's limited authority
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 Chapter 13, has the St. Cloud Housing and Redevelopment Authority responded appropriately to a request for access to data?
Category: Response to data requests
Keywords: Response to data requests, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
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: Are proposals submitted to School District 284, Wayzata, in response to Wayzata's Request for Proposal (RFP) for Finance and Student Systems, public data?
Category: Trade secret
Keywords: Trade secret, RFP (request for proposals/request for bids, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Proprietary information (See also: Intellectual property), Determination made by entity
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: Do any of the data contained in the capital expenditure reports, and particularly, the dollar amounts reported for individual capital expenditures, qualify for protection as trade secret information under Minnesota Statutes Section 13.37?
Category: Trade secret
Keywords: Trade secret, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
Commissioner: Debra Rae Anderson
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