Inside This Issue...

New fiscal appropriations include Requirements Payments funds for states. View the amounts for each state and for information about receiving the new funds on the Election Assistance Committee's Web site.

A revised version of the 2005 Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) law has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Barbara Boxer, the chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee. The new legislation was introduced as an amendment (S.Amdt. #4146) that was filed in printed in the Congressional Record on March 7. Boxer Plans to offer the new amendment as a complete substitute for several House-passed correction bills (HR 1195).

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) conducted Cyber Storm II, the largest cyber security exercise ever organized. Held March 10-14 in Washington, D.C., the exercise brought together participants from federal, state and local governments, the private sector, and the international community. For more information on Cyber Storm II visit http://www.dhs.gov/xprepresp/training/gc_1204738275985.shtm.

On Feb. 25, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced it is developing the Federal Motor Vehicle Registration System, which will register all federally-owned and commercially-leased motor vehicles that display official U.S. government license plates. The system, under development by GSA’s Office of Government-wide Policy and the GSA Fleet Program, will also hold a complete inventory of all U.S. government license plates manufactured, including those held by federal agencies for future use. The Vehicle Registration System will be accessible to law enforcement officials at the federal, state and local levels through the International Justice and Public Safety Network (Nlets). GSA is championing this initiative to improve national security through a government-wide database of federal motor vehicles and federal license plates for law enforcement. The GSA Fleet Program owns approximately 200,000 of the federal government’s 620,000 non-tactical motor vehicles, leasing most of these vehicles to other federal agencies on a cost reimbursable basis. GSA Fleet’s expertise in the operation of motor vehicle fleets and extensive automation accomplishments in this area makes their operation a perfect fit for the Vehicle Registration System. In March 2003, the GSA Fleet Program entered into a cooperative agreement with Nlets to ensure that law enforcement personnel had access to vehicle information for all GSA-leased vehicles. Agencies will start entering owned vehicle data into the Vehicle Registration System in late 2008, with full implementation in January 2009. Find out more online.

Later this month, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) will publish a grant opportunity in the Federal Register. Public Law 110-161 authorizes the EAC to award $10,000,000 in grants to states to implement a data collection program for the federal elections scheduled to be held in November 2008. Of that sum, $2 million will be provided to each of five eligible applicants. EAC will solicit proposals from states to improve the collection of data at the precinct-level for the November 2008 federal elections. State grantees will use the grant funds in part to implement new data collection procedures, systems, and/or methodologies for the November 2008 election. The EAC invites states to review the draft Request for Application and submit comments or concerns regarding the proposed grant opportunity. The review period will be open to all interested parties for a period of 10 days. All comments, concerns or suggestions regarding this grant opportunity must be submitted by e-mail to the following address no later than 4:00pm EDT, March 17, 2008. The submission e-mail address is EAC@LCGNET.COM. Visit the EAC Web site for more information.

In April 2005, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that the ability of states and localities to spend grant funds expeditiously was complicated by the need to fulfill legal and procurement requirements, which in some cases added months to the purchasing process. GAO also reported a variety of steps that had been taken by states, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Congress to streamline the expenditure of grant funds. However, GAO was unable to examine trends in obligations and expenditures for grant programs across fiscal years because the budget data the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) provided did not specify grant expenditures by fiscal year and reporting categories were not consistent across fiscal years. Although DHS has taken some steps to establish goals, gather information, and measure progress, its monitoring of homeland security grant expenditures does not provide a means to measure the achievement of desired program outcomes. FEMA’s current efforts do not provide information on the effectiveness of those funds in improving the nation’s capabilities or reducing risk. DHS leadership has identified this issue as a high priority, and is trying to develop a more quantitative approach to accomplish the goal of using this information for the more strategic purpose of monitoring the achievement of program goals, according to FEMA officials. View GAO's testimony before the House Subcommittee on Homeland Security, Committee on Appropriations.

The Election Assistance Committee (EAC) has scheduled its next public meeting for March 20, in Denver, Colorado. Topics include Election Management Guidelines, Election Data Survey, Voter Hotline Study, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Voting Act (UOCAVA Study), NASED briefing on state plans/audits, state instructions on the national form, policy clarification on allowable uses of Help America Vote Act (HAVA) funds. More meeting information is available on the EAC Web site.

Information security is especially important for federal agencies, where the public’s trust is essential and poor information security can have devastating consequences. Since 1997, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has identified information security as a government-wide high-risk issue in each of our biennial reports to Congress. Concerned by reports of significant weaknesses in federal computer systems, Congress passed the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) of 2002, which permanently authorized and strengthened information security program, evaluation, and annual reporting requirements for federal agencies. GAO was asked to testify before the Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on the current state of federal information security and compliance with FISMA. This testimony summarizes (1) the status of agency performance of information security control activities as reported by major agencies and their inspectors general (IG), (2) the effectiveness of information security at federal agencies, and (3) opportunities to improve federal information security. In preparing for this testimony, GAO analyzed agency, IG, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and GAO reports on information security and reviewed OMB FISMA reporting instructions, information technology security guidance, and information on reported security incidents.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Chertoff made a statement March 13, 2008 on the resignation of Emilio Gonzalez, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The resignation is effective April 18, 2008. "Emilio has been an extraordinary director who is leaving an indelible mark on the transformation and modernization of USCIS operations," said Chertoff. "I am grateful for Emilio’s contributions to America’s rich tradition of welcoming newcomers and to his deep commitment of service to the American public. I look forward to our continued friendship." View the entire statement on the DHS Web site.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has recently updated its REAL ID information with a list of states that have been granted extensions to the REAL ID deadline. Check out the DHS REAL ID page and sign up for DHS REAL ID updates e-mail alerts.

In fiscal years 2006 and 2007, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded about $575 million to states for the five safety incentive grant programs; NHTSA uses several oversight processes to determine the extent to which states are meeting safety-related performance goals and to monitor how the states spend grant funds. The number of states receiving the grants generally remained constant or increased from fiscal year 2006 to 2007, although the extent to which states qualified for the different grant programs varied. To oversee states’ use of grants, NHTSA uses a performance-based approach to assess state progress toward meeting safety goals and complements this assessment with oversight processes that monitor whether states are accomplishing the tasks that will allow the state to achieve its goals. This approach allows NHTSA to be involved throughout the lifecycle of state grants. In response to a mandate to evaluate the effectiveness of NHTSA’s oversight process, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) plans to issue a report in July 2008. States are planning and implementing safety improvement activities using grant funds, but the structure of the grant programs has created eligibility and management difficulties for states. Safety officials GAO spoke with in seven selected states agree that the safety incentive grant programs are assisting states in implementing activities that address key safety issues and meeting goals and performance measures established in state highway safety plans. However, state safety officials also noted difficulties in passing laws to meet eligibility requirements for some grant programs, as well as managing grant applications, deadlines, and timing. View GAO's entire report online.

Both chambers of Congress have adjourned for the two-week spring recess and will reconvene on Monday, March 31.

The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) announced March 17 that Ford Motor Company Fund will provide over $200,000 in grants to nine states and two U.S. territories as part of the Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) program. DSFL is the national, award-winning, teen driving program developed in partnership between GHSA and Ford Motor Company Fund. This marks the first time a private sector company has given state highway safety agencies grants for teen driver safety programs. The move widens the impact of DSFL’s mission to provide resources and education in an effort to supplement teen driver training programs nationwide. Grants were made available to highway safety offices through an online application process. State highway safety offices selected to receive the grants are Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Grants were awarded based on a description of need, how teens will benefit, program goals and objectives, media outreach, metrics and implementation plan. Each highway safety office receiving a grant has designed a comprehensive outreach program for the students. While using the DSFL program as the framework, each state or territory will increase the awareness of the hazards of teen driving and teach the critical skills that youth need to respond to the demands of the road. Core components of the DSFL program include an educator packet, hands-on drivers’ training events held across the country and an interactive Web site containing a learning module, car care and safe driving tip videos, safe driving games, an eco-driving module and resource materials for parents and educators. More information is available on the GHSA Web site.

At the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) board meeting on Feb. 21, the board voted unanimously to defer to the National Conference of State Transportation Specialists (NCSTS) to set a recommended enforcement date for the 2008 UCR Agreement (UCRA) registration. As a result, a teleconference was held with NCSTS state where June 1, 2008 was chosen as the recommended 2008 enforcement date on a national level. Participating in this meeting were NCSTS representatives from 39 states of which 36 were in agreement with the June 1 enforcement date. June 1 is a recommended enforcement date and it should be noted that some states intend to begin enforcement prior to June 1 for carriers based in their states. Contact Terry Willert, President of NCSTS via e-mail or at (303) 894-2850 if you have any questions.

Your peer contact information is just a key stroke away! AAMVA's new online Community Directory allows members to search AAMVA's membership system for jurisdictional, federal government, associate member and AAMVA/IRP staff contacts. This members-only directory allows a search for people, organizations or committees. Members can keep their own records up to date through the use of My AAMVA. A PDF version of the jurisdiction portion of the AAMVA Membership Directory is still available and is posted as a members-only document. If you need assistance with a Web ID or password, contact the Member and Conference Services Department.

AAMVA University announces a new training portal located at http://aamva.webroom.com. This platform gives AAMVA University more flexibility and range in training services. To attend any class, you must do a one-time registration on the site and then self-enroll for each class you wish to attend. Visit http://aamva.webroom.com and check out the new look of AAMVA University! The next round of Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS) training will begin on Thursday, March 20. All classes are held on Tuesdays or Thursdays from 2 to 4pm (EDT) via the Web with live instructors and subject matter experts and are free for AAMVA members. There is one new course in this round: 3-Year Calculations for Serious Violations. This is a CDLIS Advanced course that covers information pertaining to Table 2 of 49 CFR §383.51 Disqualifications for serious traffic violations and uses several examples to demonstrate how to properly determine and apply penalties for second and third serious convictions within 3 years. This course is recommended for those involved in the CDL program within their jurisdiction.

California is developing the batch function for the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS). California anticipates loading its VIN pointer and brand data into NMVTIS by fall 2008. For more information about how to participate in NMVTIS, contact Marney Michalowski, NMVTIS Program Manager.

The Driver, Enforcement, and Vehicle committees met March 10-12 to review the current Committee projects and discuss future programs. AAMVA Chair of the Board Glenn Turner and President & CEO Neil Schuster joined representatives of the ten disciplines. In addition to reviewing ongoing programs, committee members discussed how to serve the needs of the AAMVA membership with the current restricted levels of funding. The committees met as a combined group before breaking into discipline discussions. In a follow-up report, committee chairs reported their intent to move toward completion of the current projects before undertaking new projects but recognized the need to address critical operation needs of their jurisdictions.

Make plans to join AAMVA for the 2008 Fall Workshop, Oct. 27-30, in Tampa, Florida at the Hyatt Regency Tampa. Representatives from each program and support area of the membership are working on the agenda and developing networking and learning opportunties. Want the latest updates when they become available? Sign up for e-mails on Workshop Updates today!

If you haven’t already done so, please respond to Maryland's Vehicle Services survey, which ends March 28, 2008.