The biggest hardship for the agency is tied to constant computer malfunctions and endless lines of customers coming from the gap created by the technology that was meant to be updated in 2012.
Rep. Kyle Hoffman, R-Coldwater, said during a recent hearing that he was puzzled by the shortcomings of the critical system and the impacts its absence has on the lives of taxpayers. If the driver’s license rollout falls short of the public’s expectations, it would add more stress to an already tense situation.
During testimony to Hoffman's joint committee, Katrin Osterhaus, an IT audit manager with the Legislative Division of Post Audit, said a quarterly analysis of the project pointed to the state's contractor, MorphoTrust, which has struggled to meet project deadlines, The Topeka Capital Journal reported.
Despite the issues seen to this point, Osterhaus advised the committee against replacing the firm or severing the contract. “It’s so far into it,” she said.
“Implementation will occur at the appropriate time to ensure the new system works for Kansans,” House of Representatives spokesperson Rachel Whitten told the newspaper.
The project was placed on a "caution status" watchlist earlier this year by Legislative Post Audit, which came with a set of must-complete tasks for MorphoTrust and other contractors.
The Capital Journal reported that the agency’s chief information security officer has a current goal of completing work by Sept. 30, according to a separate report.
