Inside This Issue...

On July 13, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2007. The bill funds the Departments of Commerce and Justice, NASA, the Small Business Administration, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and other agencies. The recommendation for the bill is $51.2 billion, with a discretionary spending level of $51 billion. The bill designates $21.9 billion to the Justice Department, $7.12 billion to the Commerce Department and related agencies, $22.7 billion to science-related agencies, and $2.3 billion to other agencies.

The Department of Health and Human Services has issued an interim final rule that amends Medicaid regulations to implement the provision of the Deficit Reduction Act that requires states to obtain satisfactory documentary evidence of an applicant’s or recipient’s citizenship and identity in order to receive federal financial participation. This regulation provides states with guidance on the types of documentary evidence that may be accepted, including alternative forms of documentary evidence in addition to those described in the statute and the conditions under which this documentary evidence can be accepted to establish the applicant’s declaration of citizenship. It also gives states guidance on the processes that may be used to help minimize the administrative burden on both states and applicants and recipients. The rule is effective July 6, 2006. To be assured consideration, comments must be received no later than 5 pm on Aug. 11, 2006.

Pursuant to section 5208 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), the Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Administrator of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), is developing a five-year transportation research and development strategic plan. Interested parties are invited to review and submit comments on the draft Strategic Research, Development and Technology Plan of the Department of Transportation (DOT). The plan can be found by using docket number RITA-2006-25247 at http://dms.dot.gov. Comments must be received on or before Aug. 9, 2006.

The Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Operator Safety Training Grant Opportunity was established by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act – A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) passed by Congress and signed into law by President Bush in August 2005. The grant opportunity has two goals: (1) To expand the number of CDL holders possessing enhanced operator safety training in order to further reduce the severity and the number of crashes on U.S. roads involving CMVs, and (2) To assist economically distressed regions of the United States by providing workforce training opportunities for qualified individuals to become CMV operators. Priority will be given to regional or multi-state educational or nonprofit associations serving economically distressed regions of the United States. Eligible awardees also can include state governments, local governments, and accredited post-secondary educational institutions (public or private) such as colleges, universities, vocational-technical schools and truck driver training schools. Post secondary educational institutions must be accredited and recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The federal share of these grants shall not exceed 80 percent of the approved expenditures in the project plan. A 20 percent matching share by the recipient is required. The amount of award to a qualified applicant will be at the discretion of FMCSA based upon a panel review of all applications, recommendations of the review panel, and funding available. All grant proposals must be received by July 24, 2006. Priority will be given to programs that target participants who are currently unemployed, or provide job placement services to drivers upon completion of training. Applicants may apply electronically at www.grants.gov or by mail. For further information, see the www.grants.gov Web site.

Federal grant funds are available to states that have received PRISM (Performance and Registration Information Systems Management) training and submit an acceptable PRISM Implementation Plan. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) provides 100 percent grants--no state match is required. States that are interested in participating in the program should request a briefing by FMCSA staff to explain the program and answer questions. If, after the introductory briefing, a state wants to join the program, a Letter of Intent must be sent to FMCSA and a training session will subsequently be scheduled to assist the state in developing an Implementation Plan. Upon approval of the plan by the FMCSA, the FMCSA Division Administrator and the appropriate official from the state agency that receives the grant must sign a federal grant agreement. Interested states should contact Tom Lawler at (202) 366-3866 or Bryan Price at (412) 395-4816.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announces an Information Collection Request (ICR) has been sent to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR describes a proposed collection activity and its expected cost and burden. The Federal Register notice allowing for a 60-day comment period on the ICR was published on Sept. 29, 2005. Three comments were received supporting the concept of a national registry of qualified medical examiners, but none specifically addressed the information collection process. Comments must be received on or before Aug. 14, 2006.

The National Maritime Security Advisory Committee (NMSAC) will hold a meeting to discuss various issues relating to national maritime security on Tuesday, July 25, 2006, from 9 am to 3 pm. The meeting may close early if all business is finished. NMSAC will meet at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, Room 4202, 2100 Second St., SW., Washington, DC 20593. For more information, contact John Bastek, executive secretary, at (202) 267-2722.

Pursuant to section 1404 (h) of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), the Secretary of Transportation is establishing a Safe Routes to School Task Force to study and develop a strategy for advancing safe routes to school programs nationwide. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Safety will serve as sponsor of the Task Force for the Secretary. The purpose of this notice is to invite interested parties to submit comments to the FHWA on the strategy or issues that should be discussed by the Task Force, and the organizations and participants to be considered for representation on the Task Force. Comments and/or applications for membership or nominations for membership on the Task Force must be received on or before Aug. 10, 2006.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada has awarded a contract to test biometrics technology in a six-month trial. The trial will test the effects of introducing fingerprint and facial recognition technologies and result in the collection of 15,000 fingerprints and facial images. Unisys Canada, Inc. (a subsidiary of Unisys) won the contract, which is valued at $835,000.

Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement will host the 2006 Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) IT Workshop. It will be held at the Kentucky International Convention Center between Aug. 28 and Aug. 31, 2006. This conference will bring an estimated 350 to 400 attendees from across North America, including technical support personnel, project managers, and data entry personnel. This annual conference, hosted by various states each year, allows participating federal, state, and local government officials to learn and work with the latest FMCSA software in areas of "commercial driver and vehicle inspection, intelligent transportation systems, compliance and enforcement, highway safety, and program management and support." The primary goal of the workshop is to show all those participating how to help play a part in reducing commercial vehicle crashes, thus making our interstates and highways safer for all who share the road. This year's atendees will stay at the Hyatt Regency Louisville located at 320 West Jefferson Street, Louisville, Ky. To see the agenda and register, visit http://kve.ky.gov/workshop/.

As part of its continuing efforts to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is currently working with AAMVA to reduce fraud through the use of the Commercial Skills Test Information Management System (CSTIMS). This Internet-based tool provides a consistent way to track the scheduling and entry of test results for commercial skills tests by jurisdiction and third party examiners. CSTIMS enforces jurisdiction-defined rules to manage CDL skills testing and will alert various parties when circumstances are encountered that require investigation to determine if fraud may have occurred. Additionally, CSTIMS produces reports that can be reviewed for patterns of potential fraud. Alaska and New Mexico have begun piloting CSTIMS for day-to-day management of their commercial skills testers. The CSTIMS pilot is now at full jurisdiction participation, with Alaska and New Mexico joining Arizona and South Dakota using CSTIMS to track the scheduling and testing activity of 40 jurisdiction and third party testing organizations utilizing approximately 112 examiners. Jurisdictions with any questions about CSTIMS should contact AAMVA’s Systems Analysis Department: Walt Jackson at wjackson@aamva.org or (703) 908-2828, and Greg Sensiba at gsensiba@aamva.org or (703) 908-2822.

The Financial Responsibility and Insurance Discipline (FR&I) has formed an SR Forms Working Group. The SR (Safety Responsibility) Forms are used by U.S. jurisdictions to ensure future proof of financial responsibility. The working group has created a survey that requires a response from each U.S. jurisdiction by Friday, July 28. The survey will help the working group update the forms and ensure that they can be digitally-imaged, which the current forms do not allow. Please complete the survey even if your U.S. jurisdiction does not require SR forms or conducts electronic filings. If you have any questions regarding this survey, contact AAMVA's Lori Cohen at (703) 908-8288.

If you haven't already done so, please respond to the following surveys. Please contact Member and Conference Services if you need a user ID and password.

• California - Immigration Documents and DL/ID  (Ends 7/28/2006)
• Montana - Registration Renewal Cards  (Ends 8/4/2006)
• Virginia - Address Changes  (Ends 7/20/2006)
• Wisconsin - Authorized stay for non-citizens / temporary DLs  (Ends 7/26/2006)
• Michigan - License Plate Manufacture  (Ends 7/24/2006)
• Saskatchewan - Licence Plate Sticker/Decals  (Ends 7/26/2006)