HF 4478 Minnesota House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Disclosure limitations on personnel data for employees of secure treatment facilities and treatment facilities modified.

This bill modifies data requirements and definitions for the Direct Care and Treatment program, which serves civilly committed sex offenders and other individuals under Minnesota's welfare system. The legislation clarifies how challenges to the accuracy of sex offender program data must be submitted and defines specific categories of data, such as medical records and directory information, to establish clearer boundaries for what information is protected. Additionally, the bill updates definitions for terms like "welfare system" and "mental health data" to ensure consistency across various state agencies and programs. These changes aim to improve data management practices without altering the core services provided to individuals receiving state support.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 18, 2026 Last action Apr 16, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduction → 1st Engrossment · 5 edits · Apr 16, 2026

MODERATE

This bill shifts its focus from general data accuracy challenges to protecting the privacy of employees at secure treatment facilities. It adds new restrictions preventing the disclosure of specific personnel data, such as addresses, employment history, and timesheets, to patients or inmates who might use that information to harass or assault staff. The bill also updates patient rights regarding correspondence and visitation to explicitly allow restrictions when necessary to protect employee safety.

Scope change

The bill's scope narrowed from a broad mandate on Direct Care and Treatment data practices to a specific focus on secure treatment facilities and treatment programs, while adding new protections for employees across state correctional facilities and the Department of Corrections.

REQUIREMENT

New restrictions prohibit disclosing employee data like home addresses, prior employment, and timesheets to patients or inmates to prevent harassment or assault.

Patient rights sections were amended to explicitly authorize facility heads to restrict correspondence and visitation if it is necessary to protect staff from harassment, intimidation, or assault.

The Sex Offender Program section was modified to include protection of staff from harassment, intimidation, or assault as a valid reason for limiting statutory rights.

Provisions regarding challenges to the accuracy of Direct Care and Treatment data and general definitions of 'medical data' and 'welfare system' were removed.

DEFINITION

The bill's title and summary were updated to reflect the new focus on disclosure limitations for personnel data in secure facilities rather than general Direct Care and Treatment data requirements.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 16, 2026

Committee

Joint rule 2.03, Deadlines, re-referred to Rules and Legislative Administration

lower

Apr 16, 2026

Lower · Passed

Committee report, to adopt as amended

lower

Mar 18, 2026

Introduced

Introduction and first reading, referred to Human Services Finance and Policy

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors