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5 Section I: Introduction SECTION INTRODUCTION Why was this model written? In Chapter 250, Section 41 of the 1999 Minnesota Session Laws, the Legislature directed the Commissioner of Administration to A...prepare model policies and procedures to assist government entities in complying with the requirements of [Chapter 13, the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act] that relate to public access to government data and rights of subjects of data. The Legislature further directed that the model be prepared in consultation with affected government entities and that the completed model be offered to these entities to either adopt or reject. In response to these directives, the Information Policy Analysis Division of the Minnesota Department of Administration prepared this model policy. What is the purpose of this model? The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (MGDPA) sets out certain requirements relating to the right of the public to access government data and the rights of individuals who are the subjects of government data. These are key and fundamental components of the MGDPA, and are the two components which provoke the greatest number of questions. The purpose of the model is to explain, in a practical way, what the MGDPA requires of each • government entity as it establishes its own specific data practices policies and procedures. Portions also are intended to be useful to anyone seeking access to public data and to individuals who are the subjects of government data. What is the scope of this model? This model provides direction in complying with those portions of the MGDPA that relate to public access to government data and to the rights of subjects of data. Although the MGDPA establishes other requirements, they are not discussed here. For further information on these other requirements, see Chapter 13, itself, and the Rules previously adopted by the Department of Administration, Minnesota Rules, Chapter 1205. The public access requirements discussed in this model are: • The presumption that all government data are public unless classified as not public by state statute or federal law; • The right of anyone to know what kinds of data are collected by the government entity and how those data are classified; • The right of anyone to inspect, at no charge, all public government data at reasonable times and places; • The right of anyone to have public data explained in an understandable way; • The right of anyone to have copies of public government data at a reasonable cost; July, 2000 Model Policy: Access to Government Data & Rights of Subjects Data