The Registry of Motor Vehicles is responsible for issuing and implementing motor vehicle operating standards, motor vehicle registrations, and automobile safety standards in an effort to preserve order and safety on the Commonwealth's roads. The Registry also works closely with the Merit Rating Board to maintain and update driver record information pertaining to civil and criminal motor vehicle infraction citations, at-fault accident claims records, and comprehensive claims records.

Objectives

Fiscal Year 1998 marks the year that the implementation of the lifetime registration program becomes effective. Beginning in May of 1998, approximately 340,000 passenger registrations will automatically renew at no cost to the customer. The concomitant lifetime license implementation will result in free, automatic personal driver license renewals in Fiscal Year 2001. Together, these initiatives will save customers about $100 million annually.

The Administration is filing an outside section in this proposed budget to improve the Commonwealth's specialty license plate program. Specialty plates can generate revenue for worthy causes, but outdated license plate manufacturing equipment and the lack of a comprehensive program have limited the opportunities for many interested groups to sponsor specialty plates. This legislation will enable the Registrar to work in concert with the Executive Office for Administration and Finance to satisfy the growing demand for unique plates. In addition, this legislation will ensure that concerns expressed by public safety officials about specialty plate design are addressed. Finally, $1 million in expansion funding is included within the Department of Correction to purchase the equipment needed to modernize its specialty plate production operations.

Budget Recommendations

The amount recommended for Fiscal Year 1998 will enable the Registry to provide the same level of services as in Fiscal Year 1997.

Budgetary Direct Appropriations

REGISTRY OF MOTOR VEHICLES
8400-0001	For the administration and operation of the registry of motor vehicles; provided, that the positions of administrative assistant to the registrar, legislative assistant, executive assistant to the registrar, and director of employee relations shall not be subject to civil service laws and rules; provided further, that all expenditures related to computer automation shall be subject to satisfactory quarterly reviews by the information technology division and shall be made pursuant to schedules approved by said division; and provided further, that forty percent of the costs of personnel services associated with the registry computer, which reflects the proportionate use of said computer by the merit rating board, shall be assessed to insurance companies doing motor vehicle insurance business within the commonwealth, pursuant to section one hundred eighty-three of chapter six of the General Laws.	35,160,254
	Highway Fund 100%

REGISTRY OF MOTOR VEHICLES RENT
8400-0050	For rent and related parking and utility expenses of the registry of motor vehicles	4,303,502
	Highway Fund 100%

Budgetary Retained Revenues

CIVIL MOTOR VEHICLE INFRACTION RETAINED REVENUE
8400-0024	Notwithstanding the provisions of section two of chapter two hundred eighty of the General Laws, the registry of motor vehicles is hereby authorized to expend for the operation of the department an amount not to exceed two million three hundred thousand dollars from revenue received pursuant to chapter ninety C of the General Laws from assessments for civil motor vehicle infractions; provided, that the amount of this expenditure shall be subtracted from the amount that otherwise would be credited to the Highway Fund pursuant to said section two of said chapter two hundred eighty, and shall not affect or alter the amounts of payments to cities and towns pursuant to said section	2,300,000

DRIVER RECORD ACCESS FEES RETAINED REVENUE
8400-0033	The registry of motor vehicles is hereby authorized to expend an amount not to exceed three million five hundred thousand dollars from the fees charged for driver record access, drunk driver hearings, and registration reinstatement, for the administration of said programs; provided, that notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, for the purpose of accommodating timing discrepancies between the receipt of retained revenues and related expenditures, the registry may incur expenses and the comptroller may certify for payment amounts not to exceed the lower of this authorization or the most recent revenue estimate therefor as reported in the state accounting system; provided further, that all expenditures related to computer automation shall be subject to satisfactory quarterly reviews by the information technology division and shall be made pursuant to schedules approved by said division; and provided further, that forty percent of the costs of personnel services associated with the registry computer, which reflects the proportionate use of said computer by the merit rating board, shall be assessed to insurance companies doing motor vehicle insurance business within the commonwealth, pursuant to section one hundred eighty-three of chapter six of the General Laws.	3,500,000

Federal Grant Spending

INTERSTATE 95 CORRIDOR GRANT
8400-0095	For the purposes of a federally funded grant entitled, Interstate 95 Corridor Grant	200,000

Trust and Other Spending

8400-0012

ENVIRONMENTAL REGISTRATION PLATE FOR PRIVATE PASSENGER VEHICLES

115,000