The Missouri legislature has a May deadline to find a solution for the state to become compliant with the REAL ID Act.
If it does not, hundreds of thousands of Missourians will be forced to open up their pocketbooks and purchase a passport.
From a 9/11 Commission recommendation, Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005, creating minimum standards for states when issuing identification cards such as driver’s licenses.
Among the requirements, states are instructed to have and share databases of the information given by residents when applying for an ID, including the photograph used on the card.
Some requirements didn’t sit well with some Missouri lawmakers in 2009. The general assembly approved a law prohibiting compliance with the federal REAL ID Act.
Today, Missouri is one of a few states that is still not complaint with the 2005 act, which will force travelers in the state to show another federally issued ID like a passport when the Department of Homeland Security steps up enforcement on January 22, 2018.
The deadline means Missouri’s current General Assembly session is the last chance to craft legislation to work with the law.
This week, House lawmakers in Jefferson City started working a bill that would offer Missourians two options.
Under HB 151, Missouri would offer two ID options: one that is compliant with the REAL ID Act, and one that is not.
Senator Ryan Silvey said the Senate is expected to work a similarly crafted bill sometime within the next week.
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Brian Abel can be reached at brian.abel@kshb.com.
