COUNTY ISSUANCE OF MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSES STUDY COMMITTEE

July 17, 1997 - Second Meeting of 1997

MEMBERS PRESENT

MEETING IN BRIEF

Minutes prepared by Jan Simmons, Legal Counsel
Organization staffing provided by Mike Kuehn, Legal Counsel

1. Administrative Matters.
2. Committee Discussion and Action.
3. Future Meetings.

COMMITTEE BUSINESS

1. Administrative Matters.

Call to Order. Chairperson Van Meter called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. The minutes were distributed, and all persons present signed an attendance sheet.

Approval of Minutes With Corrections. Corrections to the Minutes from the June 9 meeting were made to substitute Wayne Walter as a listed member of the Committee, instead of Christine Sheldon. A request was also made to indicate the presence at each meeting of any individuals serving as designees of the actual Committee members. A motion was made and seconded to accept the minutes as corrected.

Opening Remarks. Chairperson Van Meter reported that the Legislative Council had authorized $20,000 in funding for the Committee's activities.

Adjournment. The Committee adjourned at 1:34 p.m.

2. Committee Discussion and Action.

a. Presentations. Presentations were made regarding license issuance at state and county facilities.

Department of Transportation. Tina Hargis began DOT's presentation by reviewing the large number of written materials relating to the license issuance process, and gave a brief history of the license issuance process in Iowa, beginning with chauffeur's licenses issued in 1919.

Ms. Hargis next reviewed the issuance process, beginning with the establishment of proof of identity. The next step in the process is to review the driving record of the applicant, both locally and nationwide. Testing of vision, driving knowledge, driving skill, and driving equipment occurs next. Finally, the photograph is taken. Ms. Hargis also discussed the process for renewals of licenses, and then fielded questions from Committee members.

Fremont County. Christine Sheldon, Treasurer of Fremont County, gave a slide presentation to demonstrate how and where the licensing procedure occurs in Fremont County. The slide presentation showed the license facilities, including the testing areas for knowledge and driving tests. Ms. Sheldon also discussed some of the differences in county issuance, including the delays in accessing certain records maintained centrally by the DOT that can be accessed by DOT traveling teams. The counties have not undertaken any customer surveys.

b. Subcommittee Deadlines. Chairperson Van Meter noted that the subcommittees should be operating with the following deadlines in mind:

Cost survey:	August 15.
Quality survey:	October 15.
Cost analysis:	October 15.
Site analysis:	October 1.
Drafts of Subcommittee Reports:	November 1.

1. Technology Subcommittee. Nancy Richardson, Subcommittee Chairperson, reported on the meeting of the Technology Subcommittee, and explained the subcommittee's proposal for hearing expert testimony by Dave Snodgrass, an independent consultant with special expertise in license technology.
2. Cost Subcommittee. Warren Jenkins, Subcommittee Chairperson, reported on the meeting and activities of the Cost Subcommittee, including the time survey being conducted by the counties. Mr. Jenkins also reviewed with the full Committee some of the cost issues raised by Dr. Edelmann in his memorandum.
3. Quality Subcommittee. Sharon Winchell, Subcommittee Chairperson, reported on the meeting of the Quality Subcommittee, including the proposal for the customer survey required by the legislation establishing the study committee. A draft of the survey should be ready for review and discussion at the next full Committee meeting.

c. Other Committee Business.

1. Site Visitation. The Committee discussed whether a visit to a DOT itinerant site should be scheduled, but determined that a video presentation, to be prepared by DOT, would be sufficient to view how activities are conducted at such sites.
2. Public Hearings. The Committee discussed scheduling public hearings to gain public input on the issues being reviewed by the Committee. A suggestion was made to hold such hearings via the Iowa Communications Network (ICN). A motion was made and seconded that the Quality Subcommittee should oversee implementation of the public hearings, via the ICN. The Committee unanimously approved the motion.
3. Future Presentations. Bob Hagey reported that he had been in communication with persons from Leon County, Florida, where a system of county license issuance had been implemented. That county is willing to send someone to speak about their experience, and is willing to partially underwrite the cost, if necessary.
   Daron Van Helden discussed the possibility of including someone from Minnesota or another state with private issuance sites.
   The Committee decided, after discussion, to wait to determine the content of future presentations after reviewing national data requested from the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA).
4. Expenditure Authorization. After discussion of the various proposed expenditures by the Committee, a motion was unanimously approved to authorize expenditures up to the following amounts:

   Snodgrass testimony:	$1,000
   Padgett customer survey study:	$2,500
   ICN hearing:	$200
   Testimony from other states:	$2,000
   Total:	$5,700
   Expenditures in excess of these amounts are subject to Committee approval. Expenditures will be documented as necessary for the Legislative Council.

5. County Finance Appointment Update. Four names have been submitted to legislative leadership for a potential committee appointment.

3. Future Meetings.

The Committee will meet on August 13, at 1 p.m. in Room 19 of the Capitol, and on September 4, at 10 a.m., in Room 1.

OTHER INFORMATION FOR THIS COMMITTEE:

| Charge | Members | Staff | Final Report |

Comments about this site or page? webmaster@legis.iowa.gov

Please remember that the person listed above does not vote on bills. Direct all comments concerning legislation to State Legislators.

© 1995 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa

Last update: MON Feb 2 1998
sw/sam