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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: Is School District 284's, Wayzata, charge of $403.26 for copies of the following data allowable under Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13: "...a complete and detailed accounting of the cost and fees associated with the special education proceedings and consultations including the attorneys' fees that were billed to and paid by the District for the last five years?"
Category: Copy costs, Existence of data, Response to data requests
Keywords: Copy costs, Existence of data, Response to data requests, New data or different format not required, Public and not public 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: Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13, did Independent School District 276, Minnetonka, respond appropriately to May 31, 2001, and June 13, 2001, requests for access to public government data? Is Independent School District 276, Minnetonka, in compliance with Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13, regarding the appointment of a responsible authority?
Category: Copy costs, Existence of data, Response to data requests, Responsible authority
Keywords: Copy costs, Existence of data, Response to data requests, Responsible authority, New data or different format not required, Requestor must be informed, Appointment required
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 School District 1, Minneapolis, responded appropriately to a September 7, 2000, request for access to data?
Category: Copy costs, Existence of data, Response to data requests
Keywords: Copy costs, Existence of data, Response to data requests, New data or different format not required, Untimely, generally
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, sections 13.03 and 13.04, did the University of Minnesota respond appropriately to an April 14, 1999, request for access to data?
Category: Copy costs, Existence of data, Requests for data, Response to data requests
Keywords: Copy costs, Existence of data, Requests for data, Response to data requests, New data or different format not required, Data request vs. question/inquiry
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: Did the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) respond appropriately to a January 4, 1999, request for the following data: "Copies of the pay stubs for the first four months and the last four months of employment by W. D. Schock, Co." (Regarding a list of 25 Schock employees whose names the requestor provided to the MAC.) Did the MAC respond appropriately to a January 4, 1999, request for the following data: "The resumes, curriculum vitae, job applications, promotional write-ups and any and all of the records given at any time to the MAC as to each employee's job qualifications." (Regarding a list of 25 Schock employees whose names the requestor provided to the MAC.) Is the MAC's charge of $899 for copies of public government data requested on December 31, 1998, allowable under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13?
Category: Copy costs, Existence of data, Response to data requests, Response to data requests
Keywords: Copy costs, Existence of data, Response to data requests, Response to data requests, New data or different format not required, Appropriate response generally
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 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources respond appropriately to a request for access to muskellunge data contained in public reports and surveys?
Category: Copy costs, Existence of data, Inspection, Requests for data, Response to data requests
Keywords: Copy costs, Existence of data, Inspection, Requests for data, Response to data requests, New data or different format not required, Location of data, Entity responsibility
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: Did Douglas County respond properly to a request for access to public data regarding a County employee's termination?
Category: Copy costs, Existence of data, Response to data requests
Keywords: Copy costs, Existence of data, Response to data requests, New data or different format not required, Mental impressions (See: Keezer v. Spickard, 493 N.W.2d 614)
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, has the City of Roseville responded properly to the following requests for access to government data: "breakdown of 1996 TIF collections by project by district, as requested last spring" (see letters dated January 3, 1997, and May 15, 1997); "please prepare copies of any insurance policies (contracts) that bear on paying for lawsuits against the City that were in existence from the time Dave Weir (Woodbridge) first filed his lawsuit against the City of Roseville up through April 15, 1997" (see April 15, 1997, fax, and May 15, 1997, letter); "recap of 1996 TIF activity, overall, and by TIF district, and a recap of TIF fund balances as of December 31, 1996" (see January 3, 1996, letter and May 15, 1997, letter); "copy of any independent appraisals, if any, that support the resale value of $4,731,661 used in alternative B'" (see May 15, 1997, letter); and "copy of the 1996 Audited Financial Statements of the City" (see May 15, 1997, letter).
Category: Copy costs, Existence of data, Response to data requests
Keywords: Copy costs, Existence of data, Response to data requests, New data or different format not required
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, 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?
Category: Copy costs, Existence of data, Response to data requests
Keywords: Copy costs, Existence of data, Response to data requests, New data or different format not required
Commissioner: Elaine S. Hansen
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