HB 1716 -- FEDERAL REAL ID ACT OF 2005

SPONSOR:  Guest

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
General Laws by a vote of 8 to 0.

This bill prohibits the violation of a person's privacy rights in
order to obtain or renew a driver's license.

The Department of Revenue is prohibited from:

(1)  Amending any procedures for applying for a driver's license
or identification card in order to comply with the standards of
the federal Real ID Act of 2005;

(2)  Expanding motor vehicle records data it shares with other
states, the federal government, or other agencies or providing
data to any additional states or state or federal agency unless
authorized by statute; or

(3)  Collecting, obtaining, or retaining any data in connection
with activities related to compliance with the act.

Any biometric data previously collected, obtained, or retained in
connection with motor vehicle registration or operation or the
issuance or renewal of driver's licenses or identification cards
by any state department or agency must be retrieved and deleted
from all databases.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2009, FY 2010, and
FY 2011.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the Federal Real ID Act of 2005
represents overreaching government control in the lives of
Americans.  The federal government is taking freedoms and civil
liberties from Missourians.  The act was passed as an amendment
late at night on an unrelated bill for supplemental funding for
the Iraq War and tsunami relief.  The bill never had a hearing in
the U.S. Senate.  Because the act requires personal data to be
shared within the state, between states, and globally, the risk
of identification theft increases drastically.  First amendment
freedoms are also being eroded due to the lack of exemptions for
religious exceptions for taking photographs or fingerprints of
citizens.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Guest; and Louise
Diender.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on the bill say the implications of
not implementing the Federal Real ID Act of 2005 include Missouri
citizens not having access to federal courthouses or buildings
and not having adequate identification to board airlines.  The
act is not a federal mandate.  If Missouri chooses to not
implement the act, many Missouri citizens will lose privileges.

Testifying on the bill was Department of Revenue.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated October 15, 2008 at 3:11 pm