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Marquette County committee delays AI policy vote, asks counsel to review open‑records implications
Summary
The committee discussed a draft AI use policy May 19 that would limit permitted models and clarify open‑records exposure for AI‑generated materials. Members asked for definition of acronyms and safeguards; the committee agreed to send the draft to county counsel and postponed a vote.
Marquette County IT staff presented a draft county AI use policy at the May 19 Executive & Finance Committee meeting that would restrict employee use to approved, tenant‑protected AI tools and clarify how AI‑generated materials are treated under open‑records requests.
Danny, the MIS director, described technical safeguards: tenant‑restricted Microsoft Copilot licensing for some offices and firewall filtering that blocks thousands of consumer AI models. He warned that most commercial, consumer AI models are blocked and that improper use could expose PHI/PII. "Anything we use AI to create … is open to an open records request," Danny said, explaining that created documents would be subject to public records rules while day‑to‑day chat transcripts may not be.
Committee members pressed for clearer definitions of numerous acronyms used in the draft (PHI, CJI, PII, etc.) and asked how the county will detect improper use. Members also recommended the draft be reviewed by county counsel before adoption. One supervisor suggested sending the policy to court counsel for review and not voting on the draft at this meeting; the committee agreed to that course.
Why it matters: The policy would set county standards for permissible AI tools, data handling and disclosure in response to open‑records requests. Supervisors flagged the tension between operational efficiency and legal/compliance risks, especially where health, human services and law enforcement data may be involved.
What’s next: The committee requested a counsel review and will revisit the draft at a future meeting after legal feedback.
