[ST. PAUL, MN] – Following an independent review of Minnesota’s Vehicle Licensing and Registration System (MNLARS), the chair of the Independent Expert Review is recommending replacing MNLARS with a packaged software solution.

Governor Walz signed HF 861 into law, which called for an independent expert review of MNLARS to be conducted by the chair of an independent expert review panel. The review was conducted by private sector IT professionals and was to be completed on May 1, 2019.

Rick King, Chairman of the Independent Expert Review and Chief Operating Officer of Thomson Reuters, was asked to produce a detailed report of the “chair's findings, recommendations, and opinions, including recommendations on whether to outsource all or parts of MNLARS functionality.”

The Independent Expert Review identified that MNLARS has sound architecture and a solid plan exists to complete the remaining project deliverables by June 2021, but it also identified a number of risk factors which weigh against continuing to develop MNLARS as planned.

Although a more expensive option in the short run, the Independent Expert Review ultimately recommends replacing MNLARS with a packaged software solution – a recommendation recognized and accepted by Governor Walz’s administration.

“I’m committed to fixing Minnesota’s Vehicle Licensing and Registration System,” said Governor Walz. “That’s why I reached across the aisle to bring people together to find a solution. Minnesotans don’t care how they get their license plates or tabs, they just want them on time and error-free. My administration will continue to make state government as efficient and accountable as possible.”

“We are confident that rapidly licensing a packaged software solution will provide all the functionality available today in MNLARS, as well as the benefit of the knowledge and expertise of the package software providers already serving many other states successfully,” said Independent Expert Review Chair Rick King.

“People, process and technology are inextricably linked in the proper delivery of the driver and vehicle services that Minnesotans expect and deserve. This report provides a clear path forward for the acquisition of the technology that, with proper DVS staffing, will lead us to a first-rate system, and will address the process improvement concerns of deputy registrars, auto dealers and the public,” Department of Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington said. “The public-private partnership outlined in the report will drive us to keep up with the advances in technology and keep our systems up-to-date so that we can provide the digital experience Minnesotans should expect. I look forward to working with the legislature to secure the necessary and ongoing funding to implement the recommendations of this report and continue our progress in addressing deficiencies of previous Legislative Auditor reports.”

“The replacement of aging IT systems presents a significant opportunity to evolve how we deliver services to Minnesotans,” MNIT Commissioner Tarek Tomes said. “When a mature vendor marketplace exists with critical customer mass, it provides the most opportunity to leverage the investments of other states and bring innovation to bear for the benefit of all Minnesotans. While this path will require more investment in the short-term, it will best position the state to meet not only current but future needs.”

As stated in the report: “While this recommendation drives incremental cost in the short-term and causes disruption with another cutover, it is the lowest risk path to a solution that is expected to more fully meet the long-term needs of all stakeholders, in part because of the opportunity to leverage features, functionality and best practices from other states that use the same software.”

The report is posted on the MNIT and Department of Public Safety websites.