This bill aims to enhance the protection of personal information for public safety officers in Minnesota by amending existing statutes and introducing new provisions. It establishes that the personal information of public safety officers, including their residential addresses and nonemployer-issued contact details, is classified as private data. The bill outlines the process for public safety officers to notify authorities to receive these protections and specifies that violations of this chapter can lead to legal remedies only if proper notification has been given. Additionally, it clarifies that certain types of records, such as real property records and tax liens, are exempt from these privacy protections.

Furthermore, the bill prohibits the dissemination of personal information about public safety officers without consent, particularly if such disclosure poses a threat to their safety or that of their families. It introduces penalties for violations, including misdemeanor charges for initial offenses and gross misdemeanors for repeat offenses. The bill also allows public safety officers to request the removal of their personal information from the internet, with a requirement for compliance within 30 days. The effective date for these provisions is set for August 1, 2025, applying to offenses committed on or after that date.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 13.991, 480.40, 480.45, 609.476
1st Engrossment: 13.991, 609.5151
2nd Engrossment: 609.5151