HF3406

Purpose

To adjust Minnesota’s government data practices related to firearm information. The bill aims to classify certain firearm-related data as public or private and to extend how long some firearm permit data must be retained by government entities.

Main Provisions

• Data classification change for firearm-related records:
  • Data about the purchase or transfer of firearms and applications for permits to carry firearms that are collected by government entities under Minnesota statutes 624.712 to 624.719 would be private data.
• Public data for permit actions:
  • Data about the revocation, suspension, or voidance of a permit to carry a firearm would be public data.
• Death-related public access exception:
  • Regardless of the general privacy rules, data about an individual’s permit to carry a firearm would be public if the permit holder dies by suicide or dies as a result of use of force by a peace officer.
• Retention extensions:
  • The bill would extend retention requirements for certain firearm permit data, meaning government entities would need to keep specific firearm-related records for a longer period.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Shifts some firearm-related data from private to public status, specifically for revocation, suspension, or voidance of carry permits and under certain death circumstances.
• Introduces a death-related exception to public data status for permit information.
• Extends how long firearm permit data must be retained by government entities, altering current archival timelines.

Practical Implications

• Increased public access to certain firearm permit information (revocation/suspension/voidance and death-related cases) and longer data retention.
• Greater privacy protection for individuals’ purchase/transfer records and permit applications, which would remain private under the bill.
• Potential impact on individuals’ privacy in purchase/transfer and permit application processes, versus greater transparency about permit actions and specific death scenarios.

Data Points Affected (Key Terms)

• Firearms data
• Private data
• Public data
• Purchase or transfer of firearms
• Applications for permits to carry firearms
• Permit to carry a firearm
• Revocation
• Suspension
• Voidance
• Death by suicide
• Use of force by a peace officer
• Data retention

Relevant Terms firearms data, private data, public data, purchase, transfer, applications for permits to carry firearms, permit to carry a firearm, revocation, suspension, voidance, death by suicide, use of force by a peace officer, retention, Minnesota Statutes, 13.02, 13.10, 13.87, 624.714, 624.712-624.719, government data practices