Submitting a Data Request
Human Services of Faribault & Martin Counties has procedures to assist with completing your request for data.
• A written request may be requested.
• Prepayment for copies may be required.
• A data subject may need to provide identification for private information
Data about you
The Government Data Practices Act (Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13) says that data subjects have certain rights related to a government entity collecting, creating, and keeping government data about them. You are the subject of data when you can be identified from the data.
Classified data about you
The Government Data Practices Act presumes that all government data are public unless a state or federal law says that the data are not public. Data about you are classified by state law as public, private, or confidential.
PUBLIC DATA: We must give public data to anyone who asks, it does not matter who is asking for the data or why.
PRIVATE DATA: We cannot give private data to the general public, but you have access when the data are about you. We can share your private data with you, with someone who has your permission, with Human Services of Faribault & Martin Counties staff who need the data to do their work, and as permitted by law or court order.
CONFIDENTIAL DATA: Confidential data have the most protection. Neither the public nor you can get access even when the confidential data are about you. We can share confidential data about you with Human Services of Faribault & Martin Counties staff who need the data to do their work and to others as permitted by law or court order.
ACCESS TO YOUR DATA: You have the right to look at (inspect), free of charge, public and private data that we keep about you. You also have the right to get copies of public and private data about you.
Data for the Public – Right to Access Public Data
The Government Data Practices Act also provides that Human Services of Faribault & Martin Counties must keep all government data in a way that makes it easy for you, as a member of the public, to access public data. You have the right to look at (inspect), free of charge, all public data that we keep. You also have the right to get copies of public data.
Requests for Summary Data
Summary data are statistical records or reports that are prepared by removing all identifiers from private or confidential data on individuals. The preparation of summary data is not a means to gain access to private or confidential data. HSFMC will prepare summary data if you make your request in writing and prepay for the cost of creating the data.
