Arkansas gets extension to comply with 2005 Real ID Act
For months, services that cover state politics and governments have highlighted difficulties of the 2005 Federal Real ID Act, which many state have resisted, calling it an underfunded mandate -- Arkansas included. The 2007 Legislature adopted two resolutions regarding our compliance.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security released the final regulations to implement the requirements of the Act, which include uniform mofifications to drivers' licenses (remember the RFID discussions we've had? That specific technology wasn't included in the final regs, but click the picture for more information on how this works).
As of May 11, state driver's licenses and identification cards will not be accepted for federal purposes unless a state is compliant or has been approved for an extension. We received a 19-month extension. Some states have vowed not to comply. It can be interpreted as a fairly intrusive measure, especially considering all of the biometric data that can be contained in the new identification cards (and already contained in licenses in Arkansas and 44 other states).
According to a study conducted by National Conference of State Legislatures, the National Governors Association and the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the act will cost states more than $11 billion to implement over five years and will have a major impact on services to the public. To date, Congress has appropriated only $90 million to assist states with implementation of the Real ID, of which only $6 million has been obligated. The President's budget proposals have not included any funding requests to assist states with the implementation of the Real ID. This is a good example to show how states are also the recipient of unfunded and underfunded mandates.
Here's today's Democrat-Gazette article, and here are previous entries on the blog about the 2005 Federal Real ID Act:
Real ID Act still on course for implementation (5/9/07)
Congressional Real ID appropriation and its effect on states (5/26/07)
NCSL annual business meeting (8/8/07)
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security released the final regulations to implement the requirements of the Act, which include uniform mofifications to drivers' licenses (remember the RFID discussions we've had? That specific technology wasn't included in the final regs, but click the picture for more information on how this works).
As of May 11, state driver's licenses and identification cards will not be accepted for federal purposes unless a state is compliant or has been approved for an extension. We received a 19-month extension. Some states have vowed not to comply. It can be interpreted as a fairly intrusive measure, especially considering all of the biometric data that can be contained in the new identification cards (and already contained in licenses in Arkansas and 44 other states).
According to a study conducted by National Conference of State Legislatures, the National Governors Association and the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the act will cost states more than $11 billion to implement over five years and will have a major impact on services to the public. To date, Congress has appropriated only $90 million to assist states with implementation of the Real ID, of which only $6 million has been obligated. The President's budget proposals have not included any funding requests to assist states with the implementation of the Real ID. This is a good example to show how states are also the recipient of unfunded and underfunded mandates.
Here's today's Democrat-Gazette article, and here are previous entries on the blog about the 2005 Federal Real ID Act:
Real ID Act still on course for implementation (5/9/07)
Congressional Real ID appropriation and its effect on states (5/26/07)
NCSL annual business meeting (8/8/07)
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 1/31/2008 08:48:00 AM | Permalink |
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