Inside This Issue...

The General Accounting Office (GAO) released a report on July 24 on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Privacy Office. The GAO found that the DHS Privacy Office has made significant progress in carrying out its statutory responsibilities under the Homeland Security Act and its related role in ensuring compliance with the Privacy Act of 1974 and E-Government Act of 2002, but more work remains to be accomplished. Specifically, the Privacy Office has established a compliance framework for conducting privacy impact assessments (PIAs), which are required by the E-Gov Act. The framework includes formal written guidance, training sessions, and a process for identifying systems requiring such assessments. The framework has resulted in an increase in the number (and quality) of PIAs issued, which will likely prove to be difficult to process in a timely manner. DHS has not yet designated privacy officers to help speed up the process. Actions have also been taken to integrate privacy considerations into the DHS decision-making process by establishing an advisory committee, holding public workshops, and participating in policy development. However, limited progress has been made updating public notices for systems of records that were in existence prior to the creation of DHS. Until the notices are brought up-to-date, the department cannot assure the public that the notices reflect current uses and protections of personal information. Further, the Privacy Office has generally not been timely in issuing public reports. View the entire report on the GAO's Web site.

The Senate began consideration of a $37.6 billion Homeland Security appropriations bill (S 1644) on July 24, insisting on an amendment to increase funding to improve driver’s licenses and identification cards. The Senate bill would exceed the president’s request by $2.3 billion and the House-passed bill (HR 2638) by $185 million, making another veto threat likely. The bill would provide $36.4 billion in discretionary funding. The Senate bill includes no proposed funding to implement the Real ID program, while the House bill contains $50 million. At the June 14 Senate Appropriations markup, an amendment was offered that would have diverted $300 million from other grant programs for state Real ID expenses.

AAMVA's Chair of the Board Debra Hillmer along with AAMVA staff met with representatives from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on July 25 to discuss the status of the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (HVUT) automation project and in particular, the electronic verification process. The IRS development team approached AAMVA about the possibility of hosting a portal to the HVUT data store that would mean there would be one direct link into the database. The major focus of this meeting was to talk about the possibility. Following the meeting, the group felt this was an option worth pursuing. However, there are a number of issues, such as IRS authority to disclosure of information, and availability of development/operational resources that would have to be resolved before moving forward with such an option. We will continue to keep our membership updated as details arise. For additional information or questions, contact Tim Adams via e-mail or at (502) 845-0398.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) developed National Stop on Red Week campaign to educate Americans about the dangers of running red lights. This year, the program will run Aug. 5-11. The success of this week depends on local efforts around the country. For information about the program and how you can plan your own campaign, visit the FHWA Web site.

On July 24, a federal appeals court threw out key provisions of the trucker hours-of-service law that limited drivers to 11 consecutive hourse of driving time, and allowed drivers to restart their weekly 60-hour on-duty clocks if they took 34 consecutive hours off. In the opinion, Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association v. FMCSA, the Court ruled that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) violated procedureal law when it wrote the law because it failed to give interested parties on opportunity to comment on the methodology of the crash-risk model that FMCSA used to justify an increase in the maximum number of hours that truck drivers may drive and work. The Court's decision will go in effect on Sept. 14 (unless the Court orders otherwise). FMCSA may ask for a longer stay in order to begin its comment period and rulemaking process. This was the second time the Court had considered the challenge.

On July 24, the House passed a $104.4 billion FY 2008 Transportation-Housing spending bill. The bill (HR 3074) passed by a vote of 268-153, making appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2008. Most amendments to the bill were defeated. However, one significant amendment that was adopted is one that would block funding for a Transportation Department program that would allow up to 100 Mexican trucking companies to travel beyond the set commercial zones along the U.S.-Mexican border. 

The Senate voted 85-8 to adopt the conference report for HR 1, to implement many of the recommendations of the independent, bipartisan Sept. 11 commission not previously embraced by Congress. The House is expected to clear the conference report this week. The report is available for viewing on the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Web site.

If you haven’t already done so, please respond to the following surveys:

• Pennsylvania – Impact of Sanctioning Process on Driver Safety (Ends 08/14/2007)
• Connecticut – Credit Card Acceptance and Fees (Ends 08/14/2007)

 

AAMVA is actively seeking a qualified individual to fill the Director of Driver Fitness position within the Programs Division. This position is responsible for the development, coordination, monitoring and disseminating of information in the following areas: Younger Driver, Older Driver, Driver Fitness, Driver Improvement, Graduated Driver's License, and Financial Responsibility and Insurance. Additional responsibilities include serving as staff liaison to committees, subcommittees and working groups in these areas as well as serving as the staff liaison to the Financial Responsibility and Insurance (FR&I) discipline. A job description and submission guidelines are available on AAMVA's Web site. More details are also available in the job advertisement.

If you are, great!  But if not, AAMVA, through a PACE/CSD collaborative effort, has produced some turnkey materials to help you communicate to your customers recent and upcoming changes in your jurisdiction's driver's license administrative policies and procedures. This consumer awareness campaign features all the elements of a comprehensive integrated strategy including news releases, speeches, community outreach, brochures, flyers, posters, billboards, opeds, print ads and its very own Web site--www.licenseinfo.org. Visit www.aamva.org/GetItTogether.htm and help your customers "get it together" today, before they come unprepared to the driver's license office tomorrow! You will need an AAMVA username and password to access this information.

Recently the networks announced their slate of shows for the fall/spring 2007-2008 season. CarTalk is on the slate for PBS! AAMVA, CarTalk and PBS want you riding with us into primetime. Interested? Want to know more? Contact AAMVA's Jason King to learn how your jurisdiction can hitch a ride with NPR's "Click and Clack" into primetime. It costs you nothing, and provides you with a humorous way to communicate your messages to your customers.