SF4691 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Direct Care and Treatment data requirements modifications
Related bill: HF4478
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
- The bill updates how data from welfare-related programs, including the Direct Care and Treatment (DCT) agency, is collected, stored, and shared. It aims to improve data accuracy processes for certain sex offender program data, redefine several key terms to cover more programs and agencies, and expand when and with whom private welfare data can be disclosed to coordinate services, evaluate programs, and meet federal requirements—while still maintaining privacy protections.
Key definitions and scope
- Individual, Program, Welfare system: The bill expands and clarifies who and what counts as a program or welfare system, including many state agencies and tribal programs that provide services in the welfare/system of care.
- Welfare system: Broadly includes agencies such as the Department of Human Services, Direct Care and Treatment, Department of Children Youth and Families, local agencies, county and state health, housing, and other related entities, plus tribes and contractors.
- Mental health data: Data about individuals receiving mental health services or related oversight.
- Medical data: Data collected because someone was or is a patient in government or private facilities, but separate from Direct Care and Treatment’s data.
- Directory information: Primarily basic identifying details (e.g., name, date admitted, general condition).
- Fugitive felon: A person convicted of a felony who is fleeing, violating probation or parole, or otherwise evading confinement.
- Private data: The default status for welfare system data, with specific, enumerated exceptions for disclosure.
Main provisions
- Data challenge process (Sec. 1): Adds a formal process for challenging the accuracy or completeness of data in the DCT sex offender program. Challenges must be submitted in writing to the data practices compliance official or designee, who must respond according to the law.
- Definitions and data classifications (Sec. 2–3):
- Clarifies what counts as directory information and what counts as medical data, and explicitly notes that medical data does not include data collected, maintained, used, or disseminated by Direct Care and Treatment.
- Updates definitions to include a wide range of programs and entities under the welfare system, and clarifies terms like “Individual,” “Program,” and “Mental health data.”
- Private data with broad but specific disclosures (Sec. 4):
- Keeps welfare system data as private data, but allows many specific, limited disclosures to different entities and for various purposes, such as:
- To verify identity, determine eligibility, and coordinate services across programs.
- To administer federal funds and programs and to monitor, evaluate, or prevent fraud.
- To departments like Revenue, Education, Health, Employment and Economic Development, and others for targeted purposes (e.g., tax credits, free/reduced price meals, energy assistance, data matching, program evaluation).
- To law enforcement under certain conditions (e.g., for fugitive felons, location or apprehension within official duties, and written requests).
- To health care providers, schools, counties, correctional agencies, and transportation authorities for coordinating services or administration.
- To guardianship systems with consent from the client, except when the client cannot consent or has an unavailable guardian.
- For emergency health or safety needs.
- Between agencies for program coordination and evaluation, including cross-program data exchanges for SNAP, TANF, medical programs, child care assistance, and other welfare-related benefits.
- Some data exchanges are expressly limited in scope (e.g., health records governed by HIPAA-like protections may have special rules), and Direct Care and Treatment may disclose data as permitted by law even when general restrictions exist.
- Notably, DCT is not required to share welfare data with federal law enforcement unless specifically mandated by law.
- Specific provisions also address data related to substance use treatment, guardianship coordination, and data sharing with state and interstate networks as part of program administration.
Significant changes to existing law
- Expanded scope of welfare system data handling: The bill broadens which agencies and programs are considered part of the welfare system and how their data are treated.
- Privacy with a long list of disclosures: It shifts welfare data to private data, but creates an extensive, scenario-based list of permissible disclosures to many state and local agencies, education, health providers, law enforcement, and guardianship entities, among others.
- Data accuracy process for sex offender data: It creates a formal process for challenging sex offender program data maintained by DCT, requiring written challenges and responses.
- Clarified data categories: It distinguishes between directory information, medical data, and welfare data, with explicit notes about what is not included in medical data and how DCT data relate to medical data.
- Emphasis on coordination and evaluation: The bill accelerates data sharing to improve service coordination, program evaluation, fraud prevention, and compliance with federal requirements, while aiming to protect privacy through defined conditions and limits.
Potential impacts and considerations
- Access and coordination: More agencies and programs can access and use welfare data to coordinate services, verify eligibility, and assess outcomes.
- Privacy safeguards: Data remains private, but there are numerous carve-outs; ongoing attention to privacy protections and proper use will be important.
- Oversight and training: Agencies will need clear processes, training, and oversight to manage the expanded disclosures and ensure compliance with privacy laws and regulators.
- Public safety and enforcement: Provisions related to fugitive felons and law enforcement access could affect how quickly information is shared in certain cases.
Relevant terms section follows.
Relevant Terms - Direct Care and Treatment (DCT) - welfare system - private data on individuals - data practices compliance official - sex offender program data - civilly committed sex offender - data challenges / accuracy challenges - medical data - directory information - mental health data - fugitive felon - private licensing agency - Department of Human Services - Department of Children Youth and Families - Department of Revenue - Department of Education - Department of Health - Department of Employment and Economic Development - SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) - general assistance - medical assistance - child care assistance programs - guardianship / guardians - cross-agency data sharing / data matching - emergency health or safety disclosures - interstate information networks - data disclosures to law enforcement (under defined conditions) - data sharing for program evaluation and fraud prevention - privacy protections / data privacy laws
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Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 23, 2026 | Senate | Action | Introduction and first reading | ||
| March 23, 2026 | Senate | Action | Referred to | Judiciary and Public Safety |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
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"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 13.04 subdivision 4a referenced in the bill.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 13.04",
"subdivision": "4a"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites 246B.01 subdivision 1a as the definition of a civilly committed sex offender referenced in the bill.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "Minnesota Statutes 246B.01",
"subdivision": "1a"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 13.384 subdivision 1 defining directory and medical data.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 13.384",
"subdivision": "1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 13.46 subdivision 1 (definitions related to welfare data).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 13.46",
"subdivision": "1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement section 13.46 subdivision 2 in amended form.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement section 13.46",
"subdivision": "2"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference to 13.02 subdivision 8 defining 'Individual' for purposes in 13.46.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "Minnesota Statutes 13.02",
"subdivision": "8"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference to section 13.05 regarding access to data.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "Minnesota Statutes 13.05",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference to 270B.14 subdivision 1 governing data disclosures to administer tax refund or tax credit programs.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "Minnesota Statutes 270B.14",
"subdivision": "1"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference to 270C.13 for related data sharing to monitor/verify eligibility.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "Minnesota Statutes 270C.13",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference to 518A.81 related to public assistance program monitoring and evaluation.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "Minnesota Statutes 518A.81",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference to 142A.29 subdivision 7 relating to disclosures to the Department of Education for FAFSA/meal eligibility matching.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "Minnesota Statutes 142A.29",
"subdivision": "7"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference to the dependent care credit provisions (section 290.067).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "Minnesota Statutes 290.067",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference to the Minnesota working family credit (section 290.0671).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "Minnesota Statutes 290.0671",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference to the property tax refund provisions (section 290A.04).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "Minnesota Statutes 290A.04",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference to the Minnesota education credit provisions (section 290.0674).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "Minnesota Statutes 290.0674",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference to health records governance (144.291–144.298).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "Minnesota Statutes 144.291 to 144.298",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites CFR Title 45, Section 160.103 regarding protected health information and health records governance.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "Code of Federal Regulations, Title 45, Section 160.103",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites CFR Title 45, Parts 160-164 governing health information handling and privacy.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "Code of Federal Regulations, Title 45, Parts 160-164",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference to Public Law 98-527 (Protections/advocacy related provisions) as applicable to guardianship data disclosures.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "Public Law 98-527",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites multiple sections of Title 42 of the United States Code for eligibility and program utilizations data.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "United States Code, Title 42, sections 1758, 1761, 1766, 1766a, 1772, 1773",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cites the federal Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 (Title II, Sections 201–204).",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference to SNAP/benefit-related provisions in Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 142F.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "Minnesota Statutes chapter 142F",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference to SNAP-related provisions in Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 256D.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "Minnesota Statutes chapter 256D",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference to SNAP-related provisions in Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 256J.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "Minnesota Statutes chapter 256J",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference to SNAP-related provisions in Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 256K.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "Minnesota Statutes chapter 256K",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference to child care assistance provisions in Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 142E.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "Minnesota Statutes chapter 142E",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference to medical programs provisions in Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 256B.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "Minnesota Statutes chapter 256B",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference to medical programs (and related data sharing) in Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 256L.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "Minnesota Statutes chapter 256L",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference to private licensing agency provisions in Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 142B.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "Minnesota Statutes chapter 142B",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference to child support reporting/registration provisions in section 243.166.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "Minnesota Statutes section 243.166",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference to 136A.121 subdivision 2, clause 5 related to data sharing with the Department of Revenue for tax/benefit programs.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "Minnesota Statutes 136A.121",
"subdivision": "2, clause 5"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference to guardianship and protective services data provisions in 145A.02.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "Minnesota Statutes section 145A.02",
"subdivision": ""
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Cross-reference to transportation coordination and reimbursement provisions in Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 473.386.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "Minnesota Statutes 473.386",
"subdivision": ""
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee