U.S. repeal sought of Real ID Act

A Utah lawmaker is sponsoring a resolution urging Congress to rethink a federal law calling for new national driver license standards.

"I think there's an unfunded mandate here," said Rep. Glenn Donnelson, R-North Ogden. He is sponsoring HR2, which is calling for Congress to suspend the May 2008 implementation of the Real ID Act and repeal the act. Donnelson also expressed concerns that the act could mean a national identification card.

The Real ID Act creates national standards for issuing state identification cards and drivers' licenses, including reissuing cards to all holders within five years, and establishing on-site verification of proof-of-identity documents.

It could cost states $11 billion over five years, according to an analysis released last year by the National Governors Association, the National Conference of State Legislatures and the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators.

However, because the final rules have yet to be issued, it's unclear what the act really means or what the cost to the state will be, said Nannette Rolfe, director of the Utah Driver License Division. The rules are expected sometime between July and September, she said, which would leave the state less than a year to implement them.

"We still don't know for sure what is required," Rolfe said. "Our main concern is we only have one more legislative session before we have to come into compliance. They haven't given us much time."

Rolfe said the act may mean a universal license, but that isn't yet certain. Last fall, Rolfe released a rough estimate that it could cost Utah $250 million to implement the act, but until the final rules are released there's no way to say how much it will really cost. She had initially heard that states would receive $40 million to implement the act, but "we have not heard a thing about that money again."

Last October, Utah released new drivers' licenses and state identification cards that come with some new security features. However, Rolfe said it's unclear whether Utah is in compliance with the Real ID Act. If it means all states use a universal design, the state "more than likely" won't be, she said.

"The concept to make the citizens of our state more secure, we agree with," Rolfe said. "But the concepts behind it, we think, need to be tweaked a bit."

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