Report 2016-121 Recommendation 10 Responses

Report 2016-121: Department of Motor Vehicles: Administrative and Statutory Changes Will Improve Its Ability to Detect and Deter Misuse of Disabled Person Parking Placards (Release Date: April 2017)

Recommendation #10 To: Motor Vehicles, Department of

To help ensure that DMV approves only those applications that qualify for the placard program as specified in state law, by September 2017 and annually thereafter, DMV should provide additional direction and training to its staff that addresses the following program requirements: the types of medical providers that may certify qualifying disabilities, the disability categories each type of medical provider may certify, the legibility of medical provider certifications, and the entry of medical provider numbers into its registration system.

1-Year Agency Response

This recommendation has been fully implemented. The new procedures were released to staff in December 2017.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

DMV has updated its policy to communicate to staff information regarding medical providers, disability categories, application legibility, and medical provider numbers. According to DMV, staff receive training during weekly training and update meetings, during which supervisors walked staff through the policy changes. While DMV's response addresses our recommendation, we cannot determine the effectiveness of DMV's actions without conducting additional audit work.

6-Month Agency Response

A memo containing new procedures and instructions for staff handling disabled person applications was completed and ready for release; however, SB 611 will amend the underlying statutes and force a change to these procedures in January 2018. As a result, the department is amending the procedures to comply with SB 611. DMV is currently working to implement the provisions of SB 611. DMV anticipates release of the new procedures in December 2017.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

60-Day Agency Response

DMV is reviewing all existing policies and procedures related to the issuance of disabled person placards and license plates. Processing manuals and other user resources will be revised to ensure all elements recommended by the CSA are included. All related training manuals are being reviewed and will be revised to make improvements where necessary to include elements recommended by CSA. Additional training modules will be developed to aid DMV staff who process placard applications. A training video on the program will be produced and will explain the benefits, certification and application process, as well as potential penalties for the misuse of a placard.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

All Recommendations in 2016-121

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.