Washington State Department of Information Services
Date: August 14, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Joanne Todd, Communications Director,
joannet@dis.wa.gov
Washington recognized for innovative technology initiatives
National group names award finalists
Olympia, WA - Two Washington State initiatives have been selected as finalists for top national awards that recognize innovation in information technology. The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) picked Washington's Enhanced Driver License/ID Card Project and the Statewide Electronic Collision & Ticket Online Records (SECTOR) application from 117 submissions from 31 states in the 2009 Recognition Awards for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Information Technology in State Government.
"These projects show innovation in the use of IT to deliver better services to Washingtonians," said Tony Tortorice, director of the state's Department of Information Services. "Smart use of technology can result in real savings in both money and time."
"These recognitions highlight the great work being done here in Washington and around the country," said Governor Chris Gregoire. "I am proud of the fact that Washington continues to be selected for our technological innovation."
The Enhanced Driver License/ID Card (EDL/ID) project was selected in a category that recognizes cross-boundary collaboration and partnerships. The first of its kind in North America, the project required close cooperation between multiple state and federal agencies as well as British Columbia. The result was an alternative to a passport that meets new U.S. and Canadian security requirements while remaining affordable to both the state and its citizens, and processing in half the time.
Over 90,000 Washingtonians have signed up for an enhanced driver license or ID card since the program launched in January 2008. Recent federal changes to document requirements at border crossing stations have greatly increased the demand for the cards.
The SECTOR application, finalist in the Information and Communications Technology Innovations category, creates a seamless electronic document flow across multiple state agencies for traffic citations and collision reports. Processes that once took days can now be accomplished in seconds, while eliminating duplication of effort and errors that can occur when different agencies re-enter information.
Award winners will be announced in October.
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About DIS - The Department of Information Services (DIS) provides telecommunications, computing, and digital government services to state, local, and tribal governments, higher education institutions, and qualified non-profit organizations.