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House Research Department Updated: July 2010 <br />Minnesota Government Data Practices Act: An Overview Page 9 <br /> <br /> <br />Access to Government Data <br />The act guarantees anyone the right to see and copy data classified as public. It requires an <br />explanation if access is denied on grounds that data are not public. Further, it regulates data <br />sharing by government agencies. <br />No Identification or <br />Justification <br />Required <br />Unless authorized by statute, a government entity may not require an <br />individual to identify herself or himself or to explain why public data <br />are being requested (except for the sole purpose of facilitating data <br />access). (Minn. Stat. § 13.05, subd. 12) <br />Convenient Use Records containing government data must be kept in an arrangement <br />and condition that makes them conveniently accessible. (Minn. Stat. § <br />13.03, subd. 1) <br />Inspection; Fee Upon request, a person may inspect public government data at a <br />reasonable time and place for no charge. Inspection includes being able <br />to view and download or print government data stored in electronic <br />form and made available to the public on a remote access basis (such as <br />an agency’s web site). An entity is not required to print a copy of <br />public data for no charge, unless printing is the only way to provide for <br />inspection of the data. (Minn. Stat. § 13.03, subd. 3) <br />A government entity may charge for remote access to data if: (1) it has <br />specific statutory authority, or (2) it enhances the data or the access at <br />the request of the person seeking the data. (Minn. Stat. § 13.03, <br />subd. 3) <br />Copying; Fees A person who requests a copy of public data or electronic transmittal of <br />data may be required to pay the actual costs respectively of (1) <br />searching for, retrieving, copying, and certifying the copies, or (2) <br />electronically transmitting the data. An additional charge for <br />development costs may be imposed if the requested material has <br />commercial value (such as a database).2 An agency may not charge for <br />separating public from not public data. <br />If 100 or fewer pages of black and white paper copies are requested, <br />the agency may charge no more than 25 cents for each page copied. <br />Copies must be provided as soon as reasonably possible, if the entity is <br />not able to provide them at the time of the request. (Minn. Stat. § <br />13.03, subd. 3) <br />Data maintained on computer must be provided in electronic form if <br /> <br />2 Further, a person who requests private data about an individual, with the individual’s consent, may be <br />required to pay actual costs of making, certifying, and compiling the copies.