Motor Vehicle-related Services Consolidation

The division of motor vehicles in the department of revenue (DMV) has administrative oversight over the use of motor vehicles in the state and the provision of legally valid forms of personal identification. But the provision of related services to the public is provided by 2 different kinds of DMV-supervised offices as follows:

• State drivers' license offices are staffed by state employees and issue and renew drivers' licenses, drivers' permits, and state identification cards, administer written and drive skills tests for license applicants, and perform driver record and vehicle record checks; and
• County vehicle titling and registration offices are staffed by county employees and act as designated authorized agents of the DMV to provide vehicle registration and titling services and issue license plates.

The bill requires the services currently provided by state drivers' license offices to be provided by county vehicle titling and registration offices. Specifically, the department of revenue must require the county vehicle titling and registration offices to provide the services currently provided by the state drivers' license offices as soon as feasible, but no later than July 1, 2021. In furtherance of the existing duty of government, stated in current law, of providing convenient and accessible motor vehicle services to the public, the authorized agents must, whenever feasible, provide the services at the same locations at which they currently provide vehicle registration and titling services and issue license plates. The department must work collaboratively with the counties before the county vehicle and titling and registration offices begin providing the services currently provided by state drivers' license offices to identify the actions to be taken and funding needed to ensure that the required assumption of services by county vehicle titling and registration offices is accomplished expeditiously, efficiently, and effectively, and must endeavor to maximize cost savings to the state by closing state drivers' license offices that are no longer needed.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)