NMVTIS Grant Applications Due July 19 
The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs' Bureau of Justice Assistance has announced it is seeking applications from states that wish to participate in the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS). NMVTIS is designed to share motor vehicle title information in an effort to reduce auto theft and title fraud. The goal of this initiative is to increase the number of states currently providing data to NMVTIS and to begin planning for future--fully online connectivity where data is shared real-time and instant title checks occur before a title is issued. This funding is for states to complete system development to provide batch data to NMVTIS on a daily basis. Applicants are limited to state agencies with responsibility for the registration and storage of vehicle title and registration information. All applications are due by
8:00 p.m. (ET) on July 19, 2007. For assistance with the requirements of this solicitation, contact David P. Lewis, Senior Policy Advisor, at (202) 616–7829, toll-free (866) 859–2687, or via e-mail at
david.p.lewis@usdoj.gov. This application must be submitted through
www.Grants.gov. The Grants.gov number assigned to the announcement is
BJA-2007-1643 .
Correction to Final Rule on Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation
A correction has been made to a final rule on parts and accessories necessary for safe operation. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced in a June 18
Federal Register notice that in the rule document E7-11112 beginning on page 32011 in the issue of
Monday, June 11, 2007, the following correction has been made: on page 32014, in the second column, amendatory instruction 2, fifth line, “Deflectors” should read “Reflectors.”
Extension of Information Collection Under OMB Review: Sensitive Security Information Threat Assessments
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has forwarded the Sensitive Security Information Threat Assessments Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval of an extension of the currently approved collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. TSA published a
Federal Register notice, with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments, of the following collection of information on Feb. 14, 2007 (72 FR 7059). The collection involves the submission of information by individuals seeking access to Sensitive Security Information (SSI) for use in civil proceedings in federal court. Send comments by July 18, 2007. A comment to OMB is most effective if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication. View the June 18
Federal Register notice for more details.
National Teen Driver Safety Week Resolution Introduced
A concurrent resolution was introduced to the Senate on June 6 that will recognize a National Teen Driver Safety Week during the third week of October. This resolution will focus increased public attention and positive action upon the No. 1 cause of death of adolescents in our country—motor vehicle crashes. The fatality rate for drivers ages 16 to 19 is approximately four times that of drivers ages 25 to 69. In 2005, approximately 7,500 of our Nation’s teenagers were involved as drivers in fatal car crashes. View the resolution (
S.Con.Res. 36) online for more information.
Privacy and ID Theft Bills Pass House
The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved a Spy Act (
H.R. 964) that would protect users of the Internet from unknowing transmission of their personally identifiable information through spyware programs, and make it unlawful for companies to secretly install spyware programs to monitor Internet activity. The Committee also approved a bill (
H.R. 948) to strengthen the authority of the federal government to protect individuals from certain acts and practices in the sale and purchase of Social Security Numbers (SSNs) and Social Security account numbers, and for other purposes. The bill makes the illiegal sale or purchase of SSNs punishable by an $11,000 fine.
House to Discuss Transportation Energy Security and Climate Change Mitigation Act
The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will hold a markup on June 20, 2007 to consider the Transportation Energy Security and Climate Change Mitigation Act (
H.R. 2701). Committee Chairman
James Oberstar noted that the transportation sector accounts for 27.7 percent of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. The bill would authorize $1.7 billion over two years for grants to transit agencies that reduce fares to encourage commuters to switch to mass transit and would authorize $200 million over four years to encourage the use of “green” locomotives that emit less carbon dioxide. The legislation also included a 100 percent increase to the federal share for grants for clean or alternative fuel equipment to power passenger rail, buses, ferries and locomotives.The federal government would waive a state matching requirement for a highway program aimed at improving air quality. The bill includes provisions designed to decrease maritime pollution, explore the construction of pipelines to transport ethanol and promote alternative energy use at federal buildings.
Uphill Battle for Revived Immigration Deal
Critical amendments to the revived Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 (
S. 1348) are expected to try the patience of the Senate when they take up the immigration debate again later this week.
One amendment, which would give family ties more weight in any point system that allows illegal immigrants to gain legal status, could cause trouble with Republican supporters of the bill. The proposal has support from liberals and immigration advocates. But it has the potential to increase legal immigration and goes against a merit-based immigration system. Another
amendment would require holders of a new “Z” visa — which would be given to illegal immigrants — to return to their home country within two years and reapply for permanent residence. If passage of either amendment occurs, the legislation may be derailed again.
House and Senate Pass DHS Funding Bills; White House Threatens Veto
On June 13, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security
approved legislation aimed at strengthening the protections against terrorist attacks on American soil. The Senate Subcommittee bill provides a $2.2 billion increase over the Bush Administration’s request, amounting to $37.6 billion. The House bill (
H.R. 2638) was passed on June 15. H.R. 2638 also exceeded Bush's funding request by $2.1 billion totaling $37.4 billion. Both bills include provisions that would delay implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) until June 2009. The WHTI passport requirement is scheduled to take effect in January 2008, but the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has already postponed a similar mandate for air travel due to huge processing backlogs. The House bill also provides $950 million for state and local grants, which is $100 million more than what the Senate bill would provide and about three times the amount requested by the Bush administration. Both the House and the Senate bills provide $800 million for port and rail security grants, which is double Bush’s request. The White House has
threatened a veto of any spending above requested levels.
Grant Application Period Extended for Licensing Programs to Increase Reporting of At-Risk Drivers
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has extended the application period for solicitation
DTNH22-07-R-00071 to July 15, 2007. The solicitation is for a cooperative agreement project with jurisdictional licensing authorities to enhance the referral systems they have in place for medically at-risk drivers. NHTSA will accept applications for the agreement in hard-copy form or CD-ROM, or online via
www.Grants.gov. (The solicitation will be updated on Grants.gov soon.) If you have any questions, contact Chelly Johnson-Jones whose contact information can be found in the solicitation notice. The purpose of the cooperative agreement program is to support the development, enhancement, implementation and evaluation of driver referrals and control of medically at-risk drivers. The agreement will provide funds for developing, implementing, and evaluating approaches designed to enhance referrals and control of medically at-risk drivers. Applications for funds should address ways of strengthening the role of jurisdictional Medical Advisory Boards (MAB) and encouraging the external reporting of impaired drivers to licensing authorities.
House Subcommittee Approves Transportation-Housing Spending Bill
On June 11, 2007 the House Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations approved a draft bill, which provides $50.7 billion for agencies under its jurisdiction for FY 2008. The bill fully funds the highway and transit guarantees contained in SAFETEA-LU. The bill provides $528 million for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and $836 million will go to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. For more information, view the
prepared statement by Congressman John W. Olver, Chairman, Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.
Bush to Nominate Barrett to Serve in Administration
On June 8, 2007, President Bush
announced his intention to nominate Thomas J. Barrett, Alaska, to be Deputy Secretary of Transportation. Barrett currently serves as Acting Deputy Secretary of Transportation and Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration at the Department of Transportation. Prior to this, he served as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies. Earlier in his career, he served as Vice Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. Barrett received his bachelor's degree from Le Moyne College and his JD from George Washington University. Barrett's
biography is available on the Department of Transportation Web site.
Alaska Participates in Help America Vote Verification
Alaska is the 38th jurisdiction participating in the Help America Vote Verification (HAVV). The Help America Vote Act (HAVA–P.L.107-252) requires individuals registering to vote to provide a driver’s license number or the last four digits of the applicant's Social Security Number. HAVA also specifies that a state election official and motor vehicle authority must match the information in the registration database with that in the driver’s license database. In addition, HAVA requires that the state motor vehicle agency enter into an agreement with the Social Security Administration to verify voter registration information. The complete list of participating jurisdictions can be found on
AAMVA's Web site. For more information on how to participate in this program, contact the AAMVA Operations Department at (888) 226-8280 option #3.
AAMVA Announces New Wide Area Network Service
AAMVA announced in a June 8 letter to chief administrators that the organization will move its Wide Area Network (WAN) customers to a new network platform by July 2009. The network, known as AAMVAnet™, has been a dependable platform for member jurisdictions and other customers, however, the current vendor, AT&T, gave notice that it will no longer support the current network past July 2009. AAMVA, through its Technical Committee, is seizing the opportunity to migrate to a provider with a more robust, scalable, modern and secure platform.
Jurisdictions will be reimbursed for the migration costs, as they specifically relate to AAMVA services, for the standard Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS) configuration. AAMVA staff will build pricing models to propose pricing and fee structure options for the AAMVA Board to consider and approve, most likely in August 2007. AAMVA staff will work diligently with each AAMVAnet™ customer to migrate to the WAN and the new vendor, Verizon Business Network Services, Inc., by July 2009. For more information, download a fact sheet on the migration.
Americans Concerned With Older Driver Safety, Zogby Poll Says
A
Zogby poll released June 7, 2007 shows that most Americans are engaged in the driving safety of their parents and other older loved ones. Sixty-five percent of the Zogby survey respondents said they have been concerned that an older driver close to them may no longer be able to drive safely. And sixty percent of those people said they confronted that person about their concerns. Read more at
http://blog.aamva.org.
The Next Generation of AAMVAnet: AAMVA Announces New Wide Area Network Service
AAMVA announced in a June 8 letter to chief administrators that the organization will move its Wide Area Network (WAN) customers to a new network platform by July 2009. The network, known as AAMVAnet™, has been a dependable platform for member jurisdictions and other customers, however, the current vendor, AT&T, gave notice that it will no longer support the current network past July 2009. AAMVA, through its Technical Committee, is seizing the opportunity to migrate to a provider with a more robust, scalable, modern and secure platform.
Jurisdictions will be reimbursed for the migration costs, as they specifically relate to AAMVA services, for the standard Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS) configuration. AAMVA staff will build pricing models to propose pricing and fee structure options for the AAMVA Board to consider and approve, most likely in August 2007. AAMVA staff will work diligently with each AAMVAnet™ customer to migrate to the WAN and the new vendor, Verizon Business Network Services, Inc., by July 2009. For more information,
download a fact sheet on the migration.
Share Information with Other Jurisdictions
If you haven’t already done so, please respond to the following surveys:
AAMVA Seeks Information on How Jurisdictions Handle CDL Holders Cited for BAC
Jurisdictions have differing processes for dealing with commercial drivers cited for having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of more than .04 while driving a commercial motor vehicle. In the upcoming Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS) Modernization project, AAMVA wants to ensure it accurately captures the data necessary for all jurisdiction requirements. To help with this effort,
please respond to the survey titled "Citation of CDL Holder for BAC > .04 in CMV."
Ready to Enhance Your Job Skills?
Take your training to a higher level; sign up today for a course with AAMVA University. Following are upcoming fraud courses to be held in Arlington, Virginia. AAMVA University can also provide training at your jurisdiction's facility. Visit www.aamva-u.org for details or to register online, or call (866) 908-8270.
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FDR Level II Course: July 9-12, 2007; registration deadline June 22
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FDR Instructor Certification Course: Aug. 13-17, 2007; registration deadline July 27 (prerequisite: FDR Level II Course)
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