Authority: Title 46.2, Chapters 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 16, and 17; §§ 18.2-266 through 18.2-272; Title 58.1, Chapters 21 and 24, Code of Virginia. Title 33, Chapter 4, United States Code.
A. The Commissioner, Department of Motor Vehicles, is authorized to establish, where feasible and cost efficient, contracts with private/public partnerships with commercial operations, to provide for simplification and streamlining of service to citizens through electronic means. Provided, however, that such commercial operations shall not be entitled to compensation as established under § 46.2-205, Code of Virginia, but rather at rates limited to those established by the Commissioner.
B. The motor vehicle dealer center adjacent to the Franconia Customer Service Center and the mobile customer service centers shall be sold. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 2.2-1156, Code of Virginia, all proceeds from the sale of such property, estimated to be $1,091,300, shall be deposited into the general fund.
C. Included in this appropriation are the amounts required to reopen the 12 Department of Motor Vehicles Customer Service Centers (Warrenton, West Henrico, Gloucester, Sterling, Bedford, Rocky Mount, Bristol, Woodstock, Northern Virginia Dealer Center, Norfolk Military Circle, Chesterfield and Fair Oaks Mall) closed pursuant to the Governor's October 2002 budget reduction plans, estimated at $137,884 the first year and $5,098,550 the second year, exclusive of Workforce Transition Act savings. The first year's funding shall be supplemented by appropriations available under this item that had been set aside for Workforce Transition Act payments, had the facilities not reopened. In addition, 121 full-time equivalent positions and 25 part-time positions are included. In the case of the Fair Oaks Mall customer service center, the Department shall seek a new facility in close proximity to replace the facility for which the lease was relinquished. In the case of the Northern Virginia Dealer Center, the full-time equivalent positions are restored, and the operations shall be consolidated into the Franconia Customer Service Center.
D. Included in the appropriation for this item are the amounts required to restore Wednesday operations at all Department of Motor Vehicle Customer Service Centers, estimated at $514,069 in the first year and $4,381,154 in the second year. Also provided are 60 full-time equivalent and 106 part-time positions. The first year's funding may be supplemented by appropriations available under this item that had been set aside for Workforce Transition Act payments but are no longer required because the operational hours are restored.
E. Included in the appropriation for this item are the amounts required to restore operations of the Aldie Weigh Station in Loudoun County and the Middletown Weigh Station in Frederick County, estimated at $220,000 in the first year and $419,405 in the second year. Also provided are 7 full-time equivalent positions.
F. Included in the appropriation for this item are the amounts required to restore the headquarters personnel necessary to support the expanded field services, estimated at $5,056,198 the second year. Funding for the first year is available from unexpended Workforce Transition Act payments. Out of the additional amounts provided, $10,000 shall be utilized to fund any systems modifications required pursuant to the provisions of House Bill 1521, 2003 Session of the General Assembly. Up to 114 full-time equivalent positions may be filled to support these activities.
G. In order the encourage the use of alternative service delivery methods, the Department of Motor Vehicles shall not charge its customers for the use of credit cards for internet or other types of transactions.
H. In restoring services, the Department of Motor Vehicles shall give priority first to reopening the closed customer service centers and weigh stations identified in this item. Second, DMV shall restore operations on Wednesday. If for any reason revenue collections fall below expectations and are not sufficient to support restoration of all services and positions, funding provided for enhanced headquarters operations can be used to support the restoration of field services.
I. In order to provide citizens of the Commonwealth greater access to the Department of Motor Vehicles, the agency is authorized to enter into an agreement with any local constitutional officer or combination of officers to act as a license agent for the department, with the consent of the chief administrative officer of the constitutional officer's county or city, and to negotiate a separate compensation schedule for such office other than the schedule set out in § 46.2-205, Code of Virginia. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any compensation due to a constitutional officer serving as a license agent shall be remitted by the department to the officer's county or city on a monthly basis, and not less than 80 percent of the sums so remitted shall be appropriated by such county or city to the office of the constitutional officer to compensate such officer for the additional work involved with processing transactions for the department. Funds appropriated to the constitutional office for such work shall not be used to supplant existing local funding for such office, nor to reduce the local share of the Compensation Board-approved budget for such office below the level established pursuant to general law.
J. If either House Bill 1954 or Senate Bill 1058 is enacted by the 2003 Session, the Governor is authorized to appropriate from the unappropriated general fund balance of this act and transfer to this item up to $400,000 the second year to implement the legislation.