Inside This Issue...

A bipartisan group of senators will seek a major funding boost for a local law enforcement grant program that President Bush has long targeted for elimination.
Senators Tom Harkin, and Christopher S. Bond, said they would seek to provide $660 million in Byrne grants for local law enforcement, prosecution and court programs in an emergency war spending bill for fiscal 2008 expected to be considered in the next few months. The grants, established in a 1988 anti-drug law, are named for Edward Byrne, a New York City police officer who was killed in the line of duty in 1988. Since 2002, Byrne Grant funding has been cut from $900 million to $170 million. In his fiscal 2009 budget request, Bush is expected to propose significant cuts to Byrne grants and other local law enforcement programs, including the Community Oriented Policing Services, or COPS. Some conservatives have criticized COPS, saying it takes away federal dollars from homeland security operations.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report entitled "Convicted Sex Offenders: Factors That Could Affect Implementation of Driver's License-Related Processes to Encourage Registration and Enhance Monitoring of Convicted Sex Offenders." In the report, the GAO stated that 22 of the nation’s 50 states were using some form of driver’s license-related process to encourage registration or provide additional monitoring of convicted sex offenders. However, no state has a screening process whereby all applicants are screened against both the respective state’s sex offender registry and the FBI’s national registry before being issued a DL. To establish this type of screening process, most of the motor vehicle agencies (MVAs) and sex offender registries in the 26 states surveyed by GAO said that moderate to major modifications to their current IT systems would be needed, with software modifications being a key cost factor. Also, a recurring observation by MVA officials was that given competing demands for programming resources, the agencies were not positioned to handle additional projects during the next several years. In addition, successful implementation of a DL screening program for sex offenders will also hinge on how well the program incorporates key design considerations. Among other considerations cited by federal, state, and AAMVA officials, particularly important are design factors aimed at minimizing the burden on states, maintaining customer service at motor vehicle agencies, and mitigating unintended consequences. Decisions on the best approach to pursue—and, if applicable, how best to integrate the design considerations discussed in GAO’s report—likely would necessitate collaboration among various stakeholders, including interested states, AAMVA, and the FBI, which manages the national sex offender registry. In commenting on a draft copy of this report, the Department of Justice and AAMVA provided technical clarifications, which GAO incorporated where appropriate. View the report online.

The following grants are available from the Department of Homeland Security:

• FEMA - FY 2008 Trucking Security Program (TSP) Grant
• FEMA - FY 2008 Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) Grant
• FEMA - FY 2008 Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) Grant

Visit www.grants.gov for more information.

President Bush has proposed the nation's first $3 trillion budget, which is now available online at www.budget.gov. The spending plan will project about $400 billion deficit for the current fiscal year, which will end Sept. 30, and another $163 billion for the next year. With the rapidly weakening economy, many believe that even those estimates are too low. Most of the government programs for which Congress sets annual spending levels would remain frozen at current levels. For the Department of Transportation, the President's 2009 budget will: propose ways to manage the nation’s airspace more effectively to reduce travel delays; advance strategies to curb transportation congestion; ensure solvency of highway and surface transportation programs; take steps to rationalize the nation’s intercity passenger rail system; and improve transportation safety. The plan sets aside $541 million for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration; $730 million for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; and $35.5 billion for the Federal Highway Administration. The President's Homeland Security Budget will: increase the Department’s capabilities; strengthen border security, interior enforcement, and immigration services; enhance the security of the nation’s transportation system; reinforce maritime safety and security; fortify cyber security across the federal government; improve BioWatch capabilities; and expand the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s operational capacity. The Department is funded at $44 billion; marking a 10.7-percent growth Government-wide compared to 2008. Within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), spending will increase by 7.6 percent compared to 2008. The Homeland Security proposal includes grant support, including $2.2 billion in support, primarily in the form of grants, to the Department’s State and local partners in homeland security. The Budget continues to emphasize programs that distribute grant awards on the basis of risk, and this year introduces a grant program to help states implement Real ID requirements and provide a more efficient, merit-based allocation of limited resources.

A new report issued Jan. 31 by the Identity Theft Prevention and Identity Management Standards Panel (IDSP) helps to arm businesses, government agencies, and other organizations with the tools needed to protect themselves and their customers against the theft and misuse of personal and financial information. Developed through a partnership of more than 70 leading organizations from the public and private sectors, the IDSP has created a single, comprehensive resource that promotes access to and implementation of tools and processes that can help to minimize the scope and scale of identity theft and fraud. The report can be downloaded from the Panel’s Web site (www.ansi.org/idsp). Launched in September 2006, the IDSP was established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and Better Business Bureau (BBB) to identify and catalog existing standards, guidelines, and best practices related to identity theft prevention. Tom Wolfsohn, Senior Vice President of AAMVA's Policy Division, was among panel members who considered the entire life cycle of identity management: from the issuance of identity documents by government and commercial entities, to the acceptance and exchange of identity data, and to the ongoing maintenance and management of identity information. Hundreds of documents – including the applicable laws, regulations, proposed legislation, white papers, and research studies and reports – are identified in the catalog.

Customs officials are reporting no delays as new border ID rules take effect. Officers at the ports will be able to admit people who are unaware of the changes once their identities are confirmed. People will no longer be allowed to simply declare to immigration officers at border crossings that they are citizens. Instead, those 19 and older will have to show proof of citizenship — a passport, trusted traveler card or a birth certificate and government-issued ID such as a driver's license. Many points along the border were offering a grace period and handing out fliers explaining the changes. The new border ID rules are part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which requires verified citizenship and identification of all those entering the U.S. from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. The passport requirement for land and sea crossings has been delayed until June 2009.

The Transportation Research Board's (TRB) Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program (CTBSSP) Research Results Digest 5: A Status Report describes the progress and status of the CTBSSP. CTBSSP is a cooperative research program sponsored by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and administered by the TRB. The program was authorized in late 2001 and began in 2002 in support of the FMCSA's safety research programs. The report is available on the TRB's Web site.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has released a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) to upgrade the federal motor vehicle safety standard on roof crush resistance. The proposal was issued as part of a comprehensive plan for reducing the serious risk of rollover crashes and the risk of death and serious injury in those crashes. NHTSA is seeking public comment on a number of issues that may affect the content of the final rule, including possible variations in the proposed requirements. NHTSA is also announcing the release of the results of various vehicle tests conducted since the proposal and is inviting comments on how the agency should factor this new information into its final rule. Comments must be received on or before March 17, 2008. View the Federal Register notice for more details.

In response to Section 14(g) of the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability, and Documentation Act, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) established a yearly ease of use assessment program for add-on child restraints. Since the program was established, the most notable improvements have been made to child restraint harness designs, labels, and manuals. On Nov. 23, 2007, the agency published a notice seeking comment on revisions to the program. This notice summarizes the comments received and provides the agency’s decision on how we will proceed. The agency has decided to enhance the program by including new rating features (the design aspects that are being evaluated) and criteria (the questions that evaluate the feature), adjusting the scoring system, and using stars to display the ease of use rating. NHTSA anticipates that these program changes will result in a more robust rating program for consumers while continuing to encourage manufacturers to refine current features and in some cases, install more features that help make child restraints easier to use. View the Feb. 1 Federal Register notice for more details.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced the next meeting of the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) Board of Directors will take place telephonically on Feb. 21, 2008, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. EST. As soon as the dial in number and pass code are available, that information will be sent out via e-mail and posted on the AAMVA Web site in the Motor Carrier Services discipline section, where you'll also find other UCR documentation and updates.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is asking for comments on the Fatal Accident Reporting System (FARS). Comments must be received on or before March 31, 2008. More information is available in the Jan. 31 Federal Register notice.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) hosted a peer exchange on Oct. 16-17, 2007 in Madison, Wisconsin. Representatives from Iowa DOT, Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Virginia DMV, AAMVA and the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Law joined representatives from Wisconsin’s vehicle dealers, lenders and consumer groups to share their thoughts and reactions to the Uniform Certificate of Title Act (UCOTA) on day one. On day two the core group from Iowa, Minnesota, Virginia, Wisconsin and AAMVA discussed the titling and lien systems in each state, sharing issues and best practices. A report is now available online that highlights the key observations about UCOTA and its impacts, as well as opportunities for action at WisDOT that came out of the peer exchange discussions. 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is announcing that it will issue guidance and accept applications for surface transportation security improvement grants and that applicants must submit the applications pursuant to procedures to be made available on or about Feb. 1, 2008. For further information, e-mail TSAgrants@tsa.dhs.gov. Background information is also available in a Jan. 29 Federal Register notice.

The Reducing Global Warming Pollution from Vehicles Act of 2008 (S 2555) was introduced to the Senate on Jan. 24, 2008. The bill is intended to permit California and other states to effectively control greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles, and for other purposes. It was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. View the entire text of the legislation online.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is establishing minimum standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards that federal agencies would accept for official purposes on or after May 11, 2008, in accordance with the Real ID Act of 2005 (Real ID). The final rule establishes standards to meet the minimum requirements of Real ID. This final rule also provides a process for states to seek an additional extension of the compliance deadline to May 11, 2011, by demonstrating material compliance with the core requirements of the Act and this rule. Finally, taking into consideration the operational burdens on state Departments of Motor Vehicles (DMVs), this rule extends the enrollment time period to allow states determined by DHS to be in compliance with the Act to replace all licenses intended for official purpose with Real ID-compliant cards by Dec. 1, 2014 for people born after Dec. 1, 1964, and by Dec. 1, 2017 for those born on or before Dec. 1, 1964. This rule is effective March 31, 2008. The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the rule is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of March 31, 2008. View the Federal Register notice for more details on compliance dates and enrollment. For further information, contact Darrell Williams, Real ID Program Office, Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC 20528, (202) 282-9829.

The IRP Managers/Supervisors Workshop will be held March 29-31, 2008 in the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel in Birmingham, Alabama. Register online today (your last chance to receive the discounted rate!). Mark Kaleta, Chairman of the Plan Procedures and Education Committee, says, "This workshop is a great educational tool; the perfect setting for networking. It's also helpful to be able to run ideas past your peers in other jurisdictions. Very worthwhile." The Workshop agenda is available viewing online. As an added incentive for first-time, non-IRP, Inc. Member attendees, we are offering a complimentary IRP, Inc. Subscriber Membership (value = $450 USD!) valid until Sept. 30, 2008 when you register to attend this event. Please encourage your industry colleagues to take advantage of this phenomenal deal!

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) entitled "Evaluation Surveys for Impaired Driving and Safety Belt Interventions" (abstracted in a Jan. 31 Federal Register notice) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and the expected burden. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period was published on Nov. 26, 2007 (72 FR 66026-66028). Comments must be submitted on or before March 3, 2008. More details are available in the Jan. 31 Federal Register notice.

It was just one month ago when I last blogged about full 100 percent state implementation of the nation's only online, real-time vehicle fraud reduction machine: NMVTIS (the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System). And if you missed the blog, you should definitely listen to my two part podcast with DOJ's Jim Burch to hear where things are headed. Now, just this month, Reader's Digest freelancer Mandy Matson gets out the magnifying glass in her latest feature story and examines vehicle safety issues with airbag deployment, theft and the connection to NMVTIS. Read the entire blog: http://BLOG.AAMVA.ORG/2008/01/28/got-nmvtis.aspx.

AAMVA is now accepting applications for its AAMVA/Nick Denice Memorial Fellowship Awards at the John F. Kennedy School of Government's Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program at Harvard University. This award is open to AAMVA members who are chief motor vehicle and law enforcement officials from the United States and Canada; AAMVA or IRP, Inc. Board of Directors members and AAMVA International Standing Committee Chairs and Vice Chairs. Read about the experience of last year's recipient, Col. Jeffrey Miller, Pennsylvania. Don't miss the application deadline of Feb. 7, 2008.

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

• Connecticut – Special Task Force/Committee (Ends 02/12/2008)
• West Virginia – DPPA – Private Investigators (Ends 02/08/2008)
• Massachusetts – Document Encoding Prior to Document Imaging (Ends 02/13/2008)