Research data protection provision for data on individuals

SF 3872 adds new protections for research data collected by Minnesota's Department of Public Safety. It explicitly prohibits using this data for non-research purposes and requires it to be handled like other confidential information (e.g., medical or Social Security data). This affects how the department shares data with researchers studying traffic safety, domestic abuse programs, or other public safety topics. The bill clarifies that research data must be kept confidential, aligning with federal definitions of "research" for surveys, focus groups, and program evaluation.