Happy New — Data Practices — Year!
Get highlights from advisory opinions issued in 2024 related to the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act and Open Meeting Law.
The Minnesota Department of Administration with the Data Practices Office has the authority to issue nonbinding opinions related to the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA) and Open Meeting Law (OML). When government entities act in conformance with an advisory opinion, the entity is protected from damages, attorney’s fees, or any other penalty if the matter is raised in court.
Summaries of 2024 advisory opinions
Here are key points from the 2024 advisory opinions relevant to cities:
- When the accuracy of data is challenged, the city’s responsible authority must respond within 30 days by either correcting challenged data or notifying the individual that the city has determined the challenged data are correct. Cities do not have the authority to extend this deadline. See Advisory Opinion 24-001
- The city’s responsible authority is required to prepare written data access policies for members of the public and data subjects about their rights to access data and the process for doing so. These policies must be updated by no later than Aug. 1 every year. They must also be accessible to the public without requiring a request, such as on a website or clearly posted in a lobby. See Advisory Opinion 24-002
- Emails and similar written correspondence regarding city business sent between elected officials are presumptively public data unless another section in the MGDPA, state statute, or federal law would classify the content of the emails as not public. See Advisory Opinion 24-003
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