From the Governor...

More Arkansans are turning to the Internet every day to learn more about our state. With the resources available at the Information Network of Arkansas (INA), I want each of you to know how the people at INA can keep you more connected to our state quickly and easily. Throughout the years, the Internet has transformed from a marketing tool to a prospect where our government, state agencies, boards and commissions and the citizens of our great state can exchange helpful and needed information within seconds. The number of people accessing the Internet and the amount of public information available on the Internet is growing daily. INA serves to work with Arkansas state government, the businesses of Arkansas and our citizens to provide the necessary tools to communicate and provide information, connecting Arkansans one click at a time.

During my first months in office, INA has enabled me to reach thousands of Arkansans through our Web Site and e-Newsletters. When we needed to provide the greatest tax relief our state had ever seen, INA helped us to send an e-Newsletter encouraging Arkansans to get involved and make meaningful tax relief a reality. When we needed to let Arkansas know what was happening with emergency relief in Southeast Arkansas, INA was there help maintain our website with information about the relief process. The Information Network of Arkansas is here to serve you. I urge you to utilize this resource to learn more about your state government and how we can work together to move Arkansas forward.

Governor Mike Beebe

Personalize Your License Plates!

Residents of Arkansas can now search for and order a personalized license plate faster and easier than ever before, thanks to a new service at www.Arkansas.gov.

The service marks the completion of a multiyear effort to re-engineer the business processes and upgrade the license plate ordering and printing systems at the Arkansas Office of Motor Vehicles. The previous paper-based process sometimes took several weeks to process and mail a new plate. With the new online system, personalized license plate orders can be fulfilled in a matter of days. “It is our priority to not only offer our citizens easier access to services, but to also create more efficient systems and processes within our agency,” said Michael Munns, Assistant Commissioner of Revenue with the Department of Finance and Administration.

With just a few clicks, users can see if the personalized plate is available and view how it will appear on the standard issue Diamond Plate. If a personalized plate is available, reservations are accepted through the online system with a valid credit card. The system, which is available 24 hours a day, also screens for inappropriate language. The Arkansas Office of Motor Vehicles reserves the right to deny a plate based on the letter or number combination selected. Approved plates can either be sent to customers or may be picked up in Little Rock at the 7th and Battery Street Central Revenue Office when printed.

This service was created at no cost to taxpayers in partnership with the Information Network of Arkansas.

Online Searching Now Available for PACs, Lobbyists; Campaign Reporting Coming Soon

The Arkansas Secretary of State’s Office, in conjunction with the Arkansas Ethics Commission, will offer a fast and easy way for Arkansas candidates to electronically file their mandatory Campaign Contribution and Expenditure Reports at their convenience. Filing electronically will also allow quicker, easier and more complete search features. All information entered by the filer is completely protected.

The candidate filing system is arranged into two sites: an Administrative Site that only the filer or filer’s representative has access to via a unique password, and a Public Site. On the Administration page, information is entered into standard fields, and then the report is officially filed. After a report is filed, it cannot be edited by anyone, including the filer, without submitting a new Amended Report. The Public Site displays the information that has been entered in a format similar to the current paper Campaign Contribution and Expenditure Report. No additional information will be disclosed.

Filing online will be fast, easy, and convenient for candidates and researchers alike with enhanced search features and capabilities. Filers are responsible for all of the information that they submit, and they must ensure that the filings are accurate and current. Neither the Arkansas Secretary of State’s Office nor the Arkansas Ethics Commission will be responsible for information entered by the candidate or the candidate’s filer.

If you are a candidate and would like to participate in the testing of this new system, please call the Arkansas Secretary of State’s Elections Division at (501) 682-5070 or 1-800-482-1127 or by e-mail at electionsmail@sos.arkansas.gov.

Users can currently utilize the Candidate Campaign Contribution & Expenditure Report Search and the PAC & Lobbyist Search at: http://www.sos.arkansas.gov.

COMING SOON! Electronic FBI Results through the Criminal Background Check System

In May 2004, the Arkansas State Police and INA launched the online Criminal Background Check system which allows most employers almost instant results on applicant state name based background checks in Arkansas. Approximately 75% of the query results are instantaneous and the remaining responses are delivered within 24 hours.

Now the State Police and INA are working together again to deliver employers FBI fingerprint based background checks electronically. After the recent completion of a multi-million dollar upgrade using state funds and federal grant money, the state’s Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) will soon be capable of transmitting civil fingerprints to the FBI electronically. This new process will be in testing soon and should be available in 2007. The electronic submission to the FBI applies only to entities mandated by law to perform the FBI Check and will reduce the time it takes to submit and process the FBI results from as long as 6 weeks to less than two weeks.

• Faster Response Time SAVE MONEY on the state check!!! Online $20 - Paper $23 (FBI checks are $24)
• Sex Offender (Levels 1 - 4) and Pending Arrest Information included
• Eliminate the Paper Process
• Monthly Billing Available

Visit www.arkansas.gov/criminal for more information or call INA at 877-727-3468.

The Information Network of Arkansas has launched and supported over 500 online services in the past 10 years and currently serves 190 agency partners.