Bill Text: NJ A2610 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Directs MVC to implement certain State Auditor recommendations to enhance integrity of driver database.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-05-06 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation, Public Works and Independent Authorities Committee [A2610 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-A2610-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman PAMELA R. LAMPITT
District 6 (Camden)
SYNOPSIS
Directs MVC to implement certain State Auditor recommendations to enhance integrity of driver database.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and supplementing P.L.2003, c.13 (C.39:2A-1 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. In furtherance of its mandated responsibility under the provisions of the "Motor Vehicle Security and Customer Service Act," P.L.2003, c.13 (C.39:2A-1 et seq.) to enhance and improve the integrity and security of the databases and records utilized in the issuance of the State's drivers' licenses, motor vehicle titlings and registrations, the commission, with regard to its driver history database, is hereby directed to:
a. Develop and implement a new status code to identify those drivers' licenses that have expired;
b. Verify, through the Social Security Administration's Social Security On-Line Verification program, the social security numbers of all applicants for basic digital drivers' licenses;
c. Secure access to the Department of Health and Senior Services' Bureau of Vital Statistics' deceased persons database for the purpose of cross-checking those records with social security number records to insure that drivers' licenses are not issued to deceased persons;
d. Direct the commission's Security and Investigation Unit to examine all instances where a driver's license has been issued to a deceased person and, if deemed appropriate from that examination, notify the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Law and Public Safety;
e. Investigate and assess instances where licensees have submitted multiple requests for duplicate licenses and, if appropriate, report instances of unlawful activity to the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Law and Public Safety; and
f. Transmit recommendations for any legislation the commission deems necessary to the Governor and the Legislature.
2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the third month following enactment.
STATEMENT
A recent audit of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission by the Office of the State Auditor uncovered certain weaknesses and flaws in the commission's driver history database. Among the problems cited by the State Auditor were instances of invalid social security numbers, an inability to determine whether a licensee has died, licenses issued to deceased persons, and cases where individuals applied for, and received, an uncommon number of duplicated drivers' licenses.
The commission was established in 2003 with the enactment of the "Motor Vehicle Security and Customer Service Act," P.L.2003, c.13 (C.39:2A-1 et seq.). One of the driving forces behind its creation was a recognition of the need to enhance and improve the integrity and security of the databases and records utilized in the issuance of the State's drivers' licenses, motor vehicle titlings and registrations in order to more effectively combat the problems of identify theft and fraudulent and counterfeit drivers' licenses which can be used in the furtherance of terrorist activities.
The State Auditor recommended measures the commission should undertake in order to correct the current problems and improve the integrity of its driver database. Consistent with those recommendations, this bill directs the commission to:
(1) Develop and implement a new status code to identify those drivers' licenses that have expired;
(2) Verify, through the Social Security Administration's Social Security On-Line Verification program, the social security numbers of all applicants for basic digital drivers' licenses;
(3) Secure access to the Department of Health and Senior Services' Bureau of Vital Statistics' deceased persons database for the purpose of cross-checking those records with social security number records to insure that drivers' licenses are not issued to deceased persons;
(4) Direct the commission's Security and Investigation Unit to examine all instances where a driver's license has been issued to a deceased person and, if deemed appropriate from that examination, notify the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Law and Public Safety;
(5) Investigate and assess instances where licensees have submitted multiple requests for duplicate licenses and, if appropriate, to report instances of unlawful activity to the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Law and Public Safety; and
(6) Transmit recommendations for any corrective legislation the commission deems necessary to Governor and the Legislature.
