Senate panel approves legislation to make states driver's licenses comply with federal security standards by 2016.
A bill that hopes to ensure states comply with federal security regulations with regards to driver's licenses is now in the Senate. Senate Bill 1261, which is approved by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, requires states to comply with federal standards by 2016. States will also have to prove by 2011 that they are making the necessary security changes.
Essentially PASS ID will replace REAL ID, which came about as a response to the security concerns after 9/11. REAL ID ran into trouble getting states to comply. “By Dec 31st, no state will have issued a REAL ID compliant identification document. We cannot have national standards for driver’s licenses when the states themselves refuse to participate,” said Secretary of The Department of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. Not only did REAL ID run into trouble with support from the states, thirteen states created legislation prohibiting compliance with the Act.
Right now some states are participating in a "volunteer" pilot program to test what needs to be done to make driver's licenses more secure. The PASS ID bill also hopes to ensure that states can electronically verify documents such as birth certificates. For questions and answers regarding the PASS ID legislation, please visit NGA.org.
(source: dhs.gov)