SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6011

                    As of February 28, 1997

Title:  An act relating to an audit of the licensing application migration project and companion projects.

Brief Description:  Directing an audit of LAMP, LITE, and companion projects.

Sponsors:  Senators Rossi, Finkbeiner, Strannigan and Oke.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Energy & Utilities:  3/4/97.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & UTILITIES

Staff:  Diane Smith (786-7410)

Background:  The Licensing Application Migration Project (LAMP) was requested, commissioned and funded by the Legislative Transportation Committee (LTC) and begun by the Department of Licensing (DOL) in 1990.  LAMP is an effort to modernize the department=s business functions by integrating the discrete databases of driver licensing with those of vehicle and vessel registration.

LAMP centers on creating a common, shared database of customer files.  With LAMP, drivers or vehicle owners in the state would have only one file rather than the two or more they have today.

LAMP is built at the Department of Information Services (DIS) data center, to be moved to the Washington State Patrol (WSP) for implementation.  The LTC=s direction is to create a comprehensive database shared by licensing and law enforcement.

The project was the subject of studies done in 1994, 1995 and 1996.  There have been significant delays and cost overruns.

The field portion of LAMP is called the Licensing Issuance Team Effort (LITE).  Companion projects such as law enforcement interface and user acceptance and training were not part of the contractor=s contract obligations.  These project functions are fulfilled by DOL.

Summary of Bill:  DIS is mandated to perform a thorough audit of LAMP, LITE and all companion projects.  These are 15 items which the auditor must consider in ultimately forming a recommendation for continuing, abandoning or restructuring the project.  The auditor must involve nine named classes of participants.

The audit must follow procedures established for the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC; formerly LBC). 

The preliminary audit report must be completed by August 1, 1997 with the final report published by November 1, 1997.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 28, 1997.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.