Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 5, 2003
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact:  Nancy Jackson, Department of Information Services, 360-902-3553; Jeff Smith, Department of Licensing, 360-902-3610

Gov. Gary Locke Highlights State’s Advances in Digital Government; Promotes Online Milestone for Department of Licensing

Gov. Gary Locke today highlighted the state’s advances in digital government and outlined ways the state is better serving its citizens and businesses by making more government services accessible online.

Improving the efficiency of state government is one of Locke’s top priorities. Today he praised the recent online successes of several state agencies, including the Department of Licensing, which recently surpassed its one-millionth online transaction. The governor also highlighted recently launched online services in several other agencies, including the departments of Health, Social and Health Services, and Personnel.

“Virtually every state agency has developed new ways to reduce or eliminate wait times at state offices, and streamline permitting processes for businesses,” Locke said. “They’re doing it through customer-friendly technology. With more services available online, people are spending more time with their families, rather than standing in long lines.”

The governor congratulated the Department of Licensing for recently surpassing its one-millionth online transaction in just two-and-a-half years. It took the agency 24 months to reach its first 500,000 transactions. But it reached its next 500,000 transactions in just eight months – one third of the time. Citizens can renew car tabs online and companies can apply for and renew business licenses, among many other services.

“For many people, the Department of Licensing is the face of state government,” said Fred Stephens, the agency’s director. “We’re often the first state agency that new residents or businesses come into contact with. First impressions are often lasting impressions. That’s why it’s imperative that we put Washington’s best face forward.”

Locke also praised Licensing for helping to streamline permitting processes in the state – a key recommendation of the Washington Competitiveness Council, which Locke convened in 2001 to examine the state’s ability to compete in the global economy of the 21st century. The agency’s Master License Service (MLS) allows businesses to fill out one application to register with all pertinent state agencies.

Last year, the governor issued a directive to the department to expand the program to include cities – allowing companies doing business with cities and the state to take care of all their license registrations at one time.

The cities of Richland, Bellevue, Tumwater and Sammamish are now part of this innovative new system. Locke announced today that the city of Sammamish is now the first to offer local and state license renewals online as well.

Stephens said that more cities are expected to join the MLS in the coming months. He also announced today that by fall 2004, Washington residents would be able to renew their driver’s licenses online.

Locke also promoted recently launched (within the past year) online services in other state agencies that are receiving positive reviews from citizens and businesses:

· Checking credentials of health care providers
The Department of Health’s new Provider Credential Search Web site provides name, birth year, and license status information on health care providers in the state, including any current restrictions or disciplinary actions.

· Paying child support
Thousands of people are using the Department of Social and Health Services’ Child Support Internet Payment System. 50,000 online payments are made per month, totaling more than $13 million – compared to the $60 million that flows through the agency each month by 180,000 paper checks. The number of electronic payments grows each month.

· Applying for a job in state government
The state’s new online job application system, operated by the Department of Personnel, recently received a top award from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers, and was just selected as a winner of the Governor’s Quality Award.

The governor today also provided an update on the number of people using two well-established online services, and how those services are saving the state millions of dollars:

· Filing business taxes
The Department of Revenue’s electronic tax filing system (ELF) is a very popular tool with businesses across the state. 56,000 businesses have registered to file electronically –that’s 15 percent of all businesses in the state. 218,000 returns were filed electronically in 2003. Electronic filers paid $336 million in taxes in July of this year.

· Reserving a campsite
More and more people are going online to reserve campsites and other activities at state parks. During the past year, nearly 40 percent of all Department of Parks and Recreation reservations were made online. As a result of this efficient reservation system, the state has been able to reduce the cost of the system for the next biennium by more than $330,000.

Washington state has won numerous national awards for its innovations in digital government. Earlier this year, Washington was named “the most digital state” in the country, based on a five-year national survey.

The Sustained Leadership Award, presented by the Center for Digital Government and the Progress and Freedom Foundation, honored Washington for making the most progress in serving its citizens through online programs and making government more accessible through technology.
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Related links: www.governor.wa.gov; http://access.wa.gov; www.dol.wa.gov

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