HF4625

Data practices; terminology updated.
Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026)

AI Generated Summary

Purpose

Update terminology related to data practices and make changes to Minnesota law to clarify who is the “responsible authority” for parts of the welfare system. The bill aims to improve how data is managed and shared for administration and program operations, in line with applicable statutes and federal requirements.

Main Provisions

Redefines the “responsible authority” for components of the welfare system, including:
- Department of Human Services (DHS): the commissioner of human services
- County welfare agencies: the director of the county welfare agency
- Local social services agencies, human services boards, and community mental health center boards: the chair of the board
- Any entity under contract with a welfare system component: the person specified in the contract
- Public authority for child support enforcement: the head of that public authority
- County veterans services: the county veterans service officer (per section 197.603, subdivision 2)
- Direct Care and Treatment: the chief executive officer of Direct Care and Treatment
- Department of Children Youth and Families: the commissioner of that department
Data access for welfare system authorities:
- A responsible authority may allow another responsible authority to access data that is not public when it is necessary for the administration and management of programs.
- Access is also permitted as authorized or required by statute or federal law.

What Changes

Establishes who has final responsibility for data governance within various parts of the welfare system.
Enables cross-access to not public data among responsible authorities to support program administration and management, subject to statutory or federal law requirements.

Potential Impacts

Clarifies accountability and responsibility for data handling across agencies and boards.
Improves coordination and efficiency in administering welfare programs by enabling information sharing among designated authorities.
Ensures data practices stay aligned with legal requirements when sharing non-public data.

Terminology and Related Concepts

Responsible authority
Welfare system
Not public data
Data practices
Administration and management
Department of Human Services
County welfare agency
Local social services agency
Human services board
Community mental health center board
Chair of the board
Contracted entity (and the contract’s designated person)
Public authority for child support enforcement
County veterans service officer
Direct Care and Treatment (DCT)
Department of Children Youth and Families
Statute and federal law

Relevant Terms - responsible authority - not public data - welfare system - data practices - administration and management - Department of Human Services - commissioner - county welfare agency - local social services agency - human services board - community mental health center board - chair - contract - child support enforcement - county veterans service officer - Direct Care and Treatment - Commissioner of Children Youth and Families - statute - federal law

Bill text versions

Introduction PDF PDF file

Actions

Date	Chamber	Where	Type	Name	Committee Name
March 25, 2026	House		Action	Introduction and first reading, referred to	Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Citations

[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Defines or clarifies the responsible authority for various welfare-system components (DHS, county welfare agency, local social services agency, human services board, community mental health center board, etc.).",
        "Authorizes data access: a responsible authority may allow another responsible authority in the welfare system access to not public data when necessary for administration and management of programs or as authorized or required by statute or federal law."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Amends Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 13.46, subdivision 10 to redefine the 'responsible authority' for each component of the welfare system and to specify cross-access to not public data among welfare-system authorities.",
      "modified": [
        "Updates the list and designation of responsible authorities for welfare-system components and adds a cross-access provision for not public data."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "13.46",
    "subdivision": "subd.10"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "References the county veterans service officer as the responsible authority for county veterans services, pursuant to section 197.603, subdivision 2."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Cross-reference within the bill to section 197.603, subdivision 2, stating that the county veterans service officer is the responsible authority for county veterans services.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "197.603",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
  }
]

Progress through the legislative process

17%

In Committee