Mid-session MNLARS update
Roughly one third of the way through the 2018 legislative session, the issue I still hear about most frequently is the unworkable disaster of Minnesota’s new system for licensing and registering vehicles (MNLARS).
Recently we passed a bill representing the first phase of a MNLARS fix. The program will not be turned around over night, but we have to begin the process now. As a first step, we allocated funding for immediate technical repairs and improvements. This money will come from a Driver and Vehicle Services fund – no new taxpayer money will be used. This differs from the governor’s proposal, which called for higher fees when you visit the DMV to fund the repairs.
We also imposed much stronger oversight and accountability measures on MNLARS officials. This means regular reports and status updates. This means setting benchmarks and goals – and meeting them. And it means that if they fail to reach their goals, we can pull the plug. The administration kept the problems hidden for a long time, but from now on taxpayers will be protected.
There were a number of innocent victims of the MNLARS disaster. Consumers had to deal with the hassle and frustration of a system that didn’t work. Auto dealers and deputy registrars had their livelihoods threatened because of the staffing problems, the flood of overtime hours, and stress levels that were through the roof.
I have a bill that would provide $9 million in restitution to registrars and auto dealers throughout the state. The restitution would be awarded based on a formula by transaction, so those who suffered most will receive the most help. These registrars and auto dealers were nearly driven out of business purely due to government’s failure to deliver a working system that they depend on for their jobs; we have to make things right.
Perhaps the fastest way to improve MNLARS is to let those who work with the system correct errors. Right now, there is no way to edit an entry within MNLARS. One testifier likened it to writing a paper and having to start over after making one typo. I have a common sense bill that would add an edit function, so dealers and registrars can correct simple mistakes without having to scrap the entire entry.
We also have to start thinking long-term. I have said over and over and over that Minnesota should not be in the software development business. The private sector can do things better, cheaper, faster, and with more accountability. We have a bill that would let the private sector compete for state I.T. projects from now on. Each agency could then pick the best entity for the job, rather than having Minnesota’s state I.T. agency develop every project by default. While we should have been doing this from the start, I am glad we are finally having this conversation.
It is important to keep in mind that things are still fluid, but MNLARS will remain a top priority. Even though the administration bears responsibility for the failure, Republicans in the legislature are working hard to clean up their mess. It will require a lot of time, a lot of energy, and a lot of reform, but we are making progress.
This column originally ran in the Owatonna People’s Press.