The Minnesota Legislature convened once again on January 3, 2023, and we've already seen several bills signed into law. Lawmakers are still considering many bills on data practices (House bills and Senate bills) and open meetings (House bills and Senate bills).
The Data Practices Office is tracking proposed legislation on these issues. We will provide a complete update on the results of the 2023 legislative session in our July newsletter.
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The 2023 Sunshine Week is scheduled for March 12-18. Sunshine Week is a national initiative focused on the important roles freedom of information and open government have in a functional democracy. The annual event is held each year and coincides with James Madison's birthday on March 16.
The Data Practices Office has several resources available to help members of the public and government understand Minnesota's government transparency laws. The Data Practices Office website has pages dedicated to guidance on specific types of data. The Commissioner of Administration's advisory opinions are searchable online. Our YouTube page has a variety of videos on specific topics and past webinars. You can also learn about upcoming trainings by following our Twitter feed.
Always feel free to contact the Data Practices Office with any questions you have about data practices and open meetings. We are here to help!
Intro to Data Practices Remote Workshop on March 14
The Data Practices Office will be hosting an Intro to Data Practices Policies & Procedures remote workshop on Tuesday, March 14 that provides an overview about state and local governments' responsibilities under the Data Practices Act, including:
- Background on a government entity's legal duties related to government data;
- Advice on the legal requirements related to appropriate access to not public data and data breach investigations and notifications;
- Help creating or updating customized data practices policies and procedures required by law; and
- An opportunity to apply your knowledge in hands-on exercises.
The workshop will be held remotely on WebEx, and it does not require in-person attendance. The cost to attend this workshop is $125.
More information about this workshop is available on our website.
Data Practices: Security and Breaches
The Data Practices Office will be offering a free webinar on Tuesday, March 28 about government entities' data protection obligations under the Data Practices Act.
The session will provide a general overview on the limitations related to the collection and storage of data, required data security policies and procedures, and notification requirements in the event of a government data breach. There will also be time for a live Q&A.
More information about this free webinar is available on our website, and you can find past webinar recordings on our YouTube channel.
Schedule of Upcoming Workshops
Wondering when we'll be hosting more workshops? We've got you covered!
We've posted a tentative schedule of all our upcoming workshops through June 2023 on the Data Practices Office website.
The Commissioner of Administration has not issued any advisory opinions since the last FYi newsletter.
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Have questions about data practices or the Open Meeting Law? Contact us at: info.dpo@state.mn.us or 651-296-6733. |
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