Subdivision 1. Definition. As used in this section, "medical examiner data" means data relating to deceased individuals and the manner and circumstances of their death which is created, collected, used or maintained by a county coroner or medical examiner in the fulfillment of official duties pursuant to chapter 390, or any other general or local law on county coroners or medical examiners.
Subd. 2. Public data. Unless specifically classified otherwise by state statute or federal law, the following data created or collected by a medical examiner or coroner on a deceased individual are public: name of the deceased; date of birth; date of death; address; sex; race; citizenship; height; weight; hair color; eye color; build; complexion; age, if known, or approximate age; identifying marks, scars and amputations; a description of the decedent's clothing; marital status; location of death including name of hospital where applicable; name of spouse; whether or not the decedent ever served in the armed forces of the United States; occupation; business; father's name (also birth name, if different); mother's name (also birth name, if different); birthplace; birthplace of parents; cause of death; causes of cause of death; whether an autopsy was performed and if so, whether it was conclusive; date and place of injury, if applicable, including work place; how injury occurred; whether death was caused by accident, suicide, homicide, or was of undetermined cause; certification of attendance by physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant; physician's, advanced practice registered nurse's, or physician assistant's name and address; certification by coroner or medical examiner; name and signature of coroner or medical examiner; type of disposition of body; burial place name and location, if applicable; date of burial, cremation or removal; funeral home name and address; and name of local register or funeral director.
Subd. 3. Unidentified individual; public data. A county coroner or medical examiner unable during an investigation to identify a deceased individual, may release to the public any relevant data which would assist in ascertaining identity.
Subd. 4. Investigative data. Data created or collected by a county coroner or medical examiner which are part of an active investigation mandated by chapter 390, or any other general or local law relating to coroners or medical examiners are confidential data or protected nonpublic data, until the completion of the coroner's or medical examiner's final summary of findings but may be disclosed to a state or federal agency charged by law with investigating the death of the deceased individual about whom the medical examiner or coroner has medical examiner data. Upon completion of the coroner's or medical examiner's final summary of findings, the data collected in the investigation and the final summary of it are private or nonpublic data. However, if the final summary and the record of death indicate the manner of death is homicide, undetermined, or pending investigation and there is an active law enforcement investigation, within the meaning of section 13.82, subdivision 7, relating to the death of the deceased individual, the data remain confidential or protected nonpublic. Upon review by the county attorney of the jurisdiction in which the law enforcement investigation is active, the data may be released to persons described in subdivision 8 if the county attorney determines release would not impede the ongoing investigation. When the law enforcement investigation becomes inactive, the data are private or nonpublic data. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to make not public the data elements identified in subdivision 2 at any point in the investigation or thereafter.
Subd. 5. Other data on deceased individuals. All other medical examiner data on deceased individuals are nonpublic and shall not be disclosed except:
(1) pursuant to the provisions of chapter 390, or any other general or local law on county coroners or medical examiners;
(2) to a state or federal agency charged by law with investigating the death of the deceased individual about whom the medical examiner or coroner has medical examiner data; or
(3) pursuant to a valid court order.
Subd. 6. Classification of other data. Unless a statute specifically provides a different classification, all other data created or collected by a county coroner or medical examiner that are not data on deceased individuals or the manner and circumstances of their death are public pursuant to section 13.03.
Subd. 7. Court review. Any person may petition the district court located in the county where medical examiner data is being maintained to authorize disclosure of nonpublic, protected nonpublic, or confidential medical examiner data. The petitioner shall notify the medical examiner or coroner. The court may notify other interested persons and require their presence at a hearing. A hearing may be held immediately if the parties agree, and in any event shall be held as soon as practicable. After examining the data in camera, the court may order disclosure of the data if it determines that disclosure would be in the public interest.
Subd. 8. Access to nonpublic data. The data made nonpublic by this section are accessible to the physician who attended the decedent at the time of death, the legal representative of the decedent's estate and to the decedent's surviving spouse, parents, children, and siblings and their legal representatives.
Subd. 9. Change in classification. Data classified as nonpublic, protected nonpublic, or confidential by this section shall be classified as public 30 years after the date of death of the decedent.
Subd. 10. Classification of certain medical examiner and coroner data. Data described in sections 390.11, subdivision 7, and 390.32, subdivision 6, shall be classified as described therein.
1981 c 311 s 24,39; 1982 c 545 s 24; 1985 c 298 s 37; 1986 c 444; 1987 c 49 s 1; 1989 c 175 s 2; 1990 c 573 s 13-17; 1991 c 319 s 11-13; 1995 c 29 s 1,2; 1995 c 259 art 1 s 24; 1Sp2001 c 9 art 15 s 32; 2008 c 277 art 2 s 7; 2012 c 290 s 59-61; 2018 c 170 s 1; 2022 c 58 s 1
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 13 - 13C — Data Practices
Chapter 13 — Government Data Practices
Section 13.01 — Government Data.
Section 13.025 — Government Entity Obligation.
Section 13.03 — Access To Government Data.
Section 13.04 — Rights Of Subjects Of Data.
Section 13.045 — Safe At Home Program Participant Data.
Section 13.05 — Duties Of Responsible Authority.
Section 13.055 — Disclosure Of Breach In Security; Notification And Investigation Report Required.
Section 13.06 — Temporary Classification.
Section 13.07 — Duties Of Commissioner; Rules.
Section 13.072 — Opinions By The Commissioner.
Section 13.073 — Public Information Policy Training Program.
Section 13.08 — Civil Remedies.
Section 13.085 — Administrative Remedy.
Section 13.10 — Data On Decedents.
Section 13.15 — Computer Data.
Section 13.201 — Rideshare Data.
Section 13.202 — Political Subdivision Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.203 — Service Cooperative Claims Data.
Section 13.319 — Education Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.32 — Educational Data.
Section 13.321 — Prekindergarten To Grade 12 Educational Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.3215 — University Of Minnesota Data.
Section 13.322 — Postsecondary Education Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.34 — Examination Data.
Section 13.35 — Federal Contracts Data.
Section 13.355 — Social Security Numbers.
Section 13.356 — Personal Contact And Online Account Information.
Section 13.37 — General Nonpublic Data.
Section 13.3805 — Public Health Data.
Section 13.3806 — Public Health Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.381 — Health Regulatory Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.383 — Health Occupations Investigative Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.384 — Medical Data.
Section 13.386 — Treatment Of Genetic Information Held By Government Entities And Other Persons.
Section 13.387 — Health Care Contract Data.
Section 13.39 — Civil Investigation.
Section 13.392 — Internal Auditing Data.
Section 13.40 — Library And Historical Data.
Section 13.401 — Library And Historical Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.41 — Licensing Data.
Section 13.411 — Licensing Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.43 — Personnel Data.
Section 13.435 — Salary Benefit Survey Data.
Section 13.44 — Property Data.
Section 13.441 — Property Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.461 — Human Services Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.462 — Benefit Data.
Section 13.463 — Education Support Services Data.
Section 13.465 — Family And Domestic Relations Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.467 — Foster Care Data.
Section 13.47 — Employment And Training Data.
Section 13.485 — Corporation Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.487 — Trade Regulation And Consumer Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.495 — Lodging Tax Data.
Section 13.4961 — General Tax Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.4963 — Classification And Disclosure Tax Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.4965 — Property Tax Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.4967 — Other Tax Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.51 — Assessor's Data.
Section 13.52 — Deferred Assessment Data.
Section 13.548 — Social Recreational Data.
Section 13.55 — Convention Center Data.
Section 13.552 — Human Rights Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.585 — Housing Agency Data.
Section 13.586 — Housing Agency Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.587 — Emergency Services For Homeless Persons; Private Data.
Section 13.59 — Housing And Redevelopment Data.
Section 13.591 — Business Data.
Section 13.598 — Employment And Economic Development Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.601 — Elected And Appointed Officials.
Section 13.602 — Elected And Appointed Official Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.605 — Legislative Data.
Section 13.606 — Legislative Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.607 — Campaign Finance, Public Disclosure, And Election Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.63 — Retirement Data.
Section 13.631 — Retirement Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.632 — Teachers Retirement Fund Association Data; Certain Cities.
Section 13.635 — General State Agency Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.64 — Administration; Management And Budget Data.
Section 13.6401 — Administration And Management And Budget Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.643 — Agricultural Data.
Section 13.6435 — Agricultural Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.65 — Attorney General Data.
Section 13.67 — Employee Relations Data.
Section 13.6705 — Employee Relations Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.679 — Public Utility Data.
Section 13.68 — Energy And Financial Data And Statistics.
Section 13.681 — Energy And Utilities Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.685 — Municipal Utility Customer Data.
Section 13.69 — Public Safety Department Data.
Section 13.6905 — Public Safety Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.711 — Department Of Commerce Data; Release Of Complaint To Respondent.
Section 13.712 — Commerce Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.713 — Banking Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.714 — Insurance Trust Data; Private And Nonpublic Data.
Section 13.715 — General Insurance Powers Data; Surplus Line Insurance.
Section 13.716 — General Insurance Powers Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.717 — Insurance; Health Care Cost Containment Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.719 — Miscellaneous Insurance Data.
Section 13.7191 — Miscellaneous Insurance Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.72 — Transportation Department Data.
Section 13.721 — Transportation Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.741 — Pollution Control; Environmental Quality Data.
Section 13.7411 — Pollution Control And Environmental Quality Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.745 — Pari-mutuel Horse Racing Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.746 — Gaming Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.785 — Veterans Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.79 — Department Of Labor And Industry Data.
Section 13.7905 — Labor And Industry Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.7908 — Bureau Of Mediation Services Data.
Section 13.791 — Rehabilitation Data.
Section 13.7911 — Bioprocess Piping And Equipment Data.
Section 13.792 — Private Donor Gift Data.
Section 13.793 — Natural Resource Data; Mineral Data.
Section 13.7931 — Natural Resource Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.7932 — Logger Safety And Education Program Data.
Section 13.80 — Domestic Abuse Data.
Section 13.805 — Address Confidentiality Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.82 — Comprehensive Law Enforcement Data.
Section 13.821 — Videotapes Of Child Abuse Victims.
Section 13.822 — Sexual Assault Data.
Section 13.823 — Domestic Abuse Or Sexual Assault Programs.
Section 13.824 — Automated License Plate Readers.
Section 13.825 — Portable Recording Systems.
Section 13.83 — Medical Examiner Data.
Section 13.84 — Court Services Data.
Section 13.841 — Court Services Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.85 — Corrections And Detention Data.
Section 13.851 — Corrections And Detention Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.854 — Release Of Arrested, Detained, Or Confined Person; Automated Notification Service.
Section 13.856 — Ombudsperson For Corrections; Data.
Section 13.86 — Investigative Detention Data.
Section 13.861 — Security Service Data.
Section 13.87 — Criminal Justice Data.
Section 13.871 — Criminal Justice Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.873 — Integrated Search Service Data Subject Access.
Section 13.875 — Juvenile Justice Data Coded Elsewhere.
Section 13.876 — Foster Youth Ombudsperson; Data.
Section 13.88 — Community Dispute Resolution Center Data.
Section 13.89 — Dissemination Of Data To Protection And Advocacy Systems.