Outside Section 14

RMV Services through Third Parties

SECTION 14.   Chapter 90 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 30A the following section:-
          Section 30A 1/2. Notwithstanding section 30A or any other general or special law to the contrary, the registrar may, in the interest of seeking cost efficiencies, avoiding disruptions and continuing to provide registry services for residents of the commonwealth, enter into agreements with third-party entities based in the commonwealth, to perform functions on behalf of the registry of motor vehicles. The registrar shall enter into agreements only with an existing entity that provides automobile-related services to the general public, or to its own members if an automobile-related association, and that maintains business offices that are open to the public during hours and at locations believed to be convenient for registry customers and in areas where a continuing need exists to provide registry services. The registrar may provide necessary inventories, equipment, electronic connections and training in regard to such agreements to provide for the provision of registry-related services by the third party. The registrar may help to defray the expenses of a the third-party as part of the agreement if necessary to provide such services, but only if the overall effect of such agreement results in cost efficiencies to the registry. The registrar shall not enter an agreement that results in the loss of employment with the commonwealth of any person who was performing services related to the agreement as a registry employee within the 30 days before the effective date of the agreement. The registrar shall on an annual basis, or more frequently if required by the agreement, review the third-party's most recent performance under the agreement and if the cost efficiencies and other purposes for which the agreement has been entered into are not being realized, she may terminate the agreement and recover all inventories, equipment, monies due and other items provided to the third-party. An agreement may be amended from time to time. All employees of a third party performing registry-related functions or having access to registry data or equipment shall be subject to all state and federal laws and regulations governing the protection of personal information. Fees collected by the third party on behalf of the registrar shall be deposited in the treasury of the commonwealth under section 34. An agreement shall ensure that the third party's performance of registry-related functions is subject to periodic audits by registry staff and the state auditor.
 
 

Summary:
This section authorizes the Registry of Motor Vehicles to enter into agreements with third parties like AAA to provide license and registration renewals and other appropriate Registry services.