Minnesota Senate Bill SF118

Minnesota 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/10/23
• Refer: 1/10/23

Caption

Destruction requirement of certain welfare data

Impact

The enactment of SF118 would impact state laws governing the retention and management of welfare data. By establishing mandatory destruction timelines, the bill seeks to minimize the risk of unauthorized access to personal information and reduce the liability of the state in protecting sensitive data. Supporters argue that such regulations are necessary to uphold individual privacy and align with broader data protection goals, making the welfare system more transparent and secure.

Summary

SF118, introduced in the Minnesota Legislature, mandates the destruction of certain welfare data, specifically medical assistance claims data that is not required for active legal proceedings or ongoing investigations. This bill sets a clear timeframe for data destruction, stipulating that data collected between January 1, 2014, and June 30, 2016, for individuals aged 52 years or older must be destroyed ten years after collection unless otherwise exempt. The legislation is aimed at enhancing data privacy and security protocols concerning sensitive welfare information.

Contention

While the bill presents a straightforward approach to data management, there may be contention regarding the balance between data retention for legal compliance and the need for privacy. Critics may argue that the ten-year destruction timeline could impede the ability to address ongoing legal issues or audits related to past welfare claims. Furthermore, there might be discussions around the adequacy of current safeguards in place for retaining essential data versus the risks posed by keeping data beyond necessary limits.