Minnesota Agencies

The oversight committee must review progress reports received and reports from the information technology auditor; oversee the implementation of the Vehicle and Title Registration System (VTRS); oversee the decommissioning of the Minnesota Licensing and Registration System (MNLARS), including the funds and staff resources spent on the decommissioning; oversee the driver's license system; and on an annual basis, review the fee and surcharge increases required by this article, and make a recommendation to the legislature on whether the fee and surcharge increases are set of appropriate amounts. The Oversight Committee may contract with, hire, or otherwise consult with any individual to assist the committee with its duties.

A May 2019 report from the Governor's Blue Ribbon Council on Information Technology recommended that the MNLARS system be decommissioned and replaced with an off-the-shelf software package. The legislature responded to that recommendation by creating the new VTRS system, MNLARS' replacement, to be launched by the end of 2020. It will be fully implemented, and MNLARS fully decommissioned, by the fall of 2021. This oversight committee replaces the now-dissolved MNLARS Steering Committee.

The oversight committee must meet at least once each quarter. The Legislative Coordinating Commission must provide meeting space and administrative support for the Oversight Committee.

The oversight committee expires six months after full implementation of VTRS. After full implementation but prior to the expiration of the Oversight Committee, the Oversight Committee must complete a report that, at a minimum, summarizes the activities of the Oversight Committee and makes recommendations to the legislature on proposed changes to state driver and vehicle laws. The Oversight Committee must submit the report to the legislative auditor. For purposes of this subdivision, "full implementation" means all packaged software solution components are implemented and functioning and all MNLARS and legacy components are decommissioned.

The Driver and Vehicle Systems Oversight Committee consists of the following members: the chair of the senate Finance Committee, or a senator appointed by the chair of the senate Finance Committee; the chair and ranking minority member of the senate committee with jurisdiction over transportation finance; the chair of the house of representatives Ways and Means Committee, or a member of the house of representatives appointed by the chair of the house of representatives Ways and Means Committee; and the chair and ranking minority member of the house of representatives committee with jurisdiction over transportation finance.

The chairs of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over transportation finance serve as cochairs of the Oversight Committee.

The chair of the Blue Ribbon Council on Information Technology, or the chair's designee, must serve on the committee as a nonvoting member. If the council expires or is dissolved, this position on the committee is discontinued.

The following individuals serve on the committee: Representatives Frank Hornstein (Co-Chair), Lyndon Carlson, and Paul Torkelson and Senators Scott Newman (Co-Chair), Scott Dibble, and John Jasinski. Rick King, Chair of the Blue Ribbon Council on Information Technology, is a non-voting member.