Kentucky has received another waiver from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to allow more time to come into compliance with the federal Real ID Act.
John-Mark Hack, commissioner of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Department of Vehicle Registration, said Kentucky and other states who recently passed legislation to comply with Real ID provisions, were granted an extension until Oct. 10, 2018.
“We’re making aggressive progress on implementation of the law, passed by the General Assembly,” Hack said. “The direct result is DHS recognizing our efforts and granting us the extension.”
Without it, people would need to present passports or other documentation approved by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to enter federal facilities such as military bases and for boarding all commercial airline flights, domestic or international, in January 2018.
However, Kentucky’s new law doesn’t take effect until January 2019, so the state will need to seek another extension to cover the intervening 22 months. “I’m confident because of the progress we’re making, we’ll be granted that extension,” said Hack.
According to Hack, one reason for the 2019 effective date is so they can issue an RFP (Request for Proposals) to vendors for a new system. “We anticipate that will be on the streets by September of this year, and a new vendor identified by January. That means we’ll be teed up and ready to go when the new law takes effect.”
Hack said the Cabinet is in constant communications with the 120 Circuit Court Clerks in Kentucky, whose offices issue driver’s licenses.
“The changes, the implications of the changes, and in fact they’re partners with us in our process of designing our new RFP, identifying the features that we want to see in a new driver’s license for the Commonwealth.”
Hack believes it will ease process for the clerks. “It’s going to be simplified, much more straight forward, easier for both them and the people applying for licenses,” he said, “It’ll rely more heavily on modern information technology systems. They’ll be able to do their jobs more effectively, at less cost, and more quickly than they are able to do now.”
A measure to bring Kentucky into compliance with Real ID standards was passed by the General Assembly in 2016, but was vetoed by Gov. Matt Bevin. He said at the time, “Good governance demands the courtesy of time needed to better understand and discuss the difference between Real ID originally envisioned by its authors, and the minimal and voluntary requirements authorized by Senate Bill 245,” last year’s bill.
Under this year’s legislation, HB 410, there is an option allowing Kentuckians to keep a standard driver’s license instead of the enhanced version.
“No Kentucky citizen will have to ever have to give their birth information to the federal government,” said Rep. Jim DuPlessis, R-Elizabethtown, who sponsored the bill. “But that person will have to take their standard driver’s license, along with some supplemental ID that the federal government has approved,” which includes a passport.
The Real ID compliant license will cost $48 and will be good for eight years. The standard license will cost $43.
The federal Real ID law was enacted in 2005 as a measure to combat terrorism.
By Kentucky Today
