Countdown to REAL ID

Following the deadline of May 11, 2008, state driver's licenses and identification cards were not to be accepted for federal purposes unless the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) determined that a state was compliant with the REAL ID or a state had been approved for an extension by the Secretary of DHS.

All 56 U.S. jurisdictions have received an initial extension from the Secretary of the DHS. The initial extension was valid until Dec. 31, 2009. On Friday, Dec. 18, the secretary issued a statement to extend that deadline. 

While DHS estimated that the implementation of REAL ID will cost states $3.9 billion, Congress has appropriated only $200 million for state implementation.

 Background Information - The Act, Regulations, Implementation Guidance and Award Announcements

• History of the REAL ID Act 
• Full Text of Title II of the REAL ID Act of 2005 
• DHS Final Regulations to Implement the REAL ID 
• 18 Interim Benchmarks 
• DHS Privacy Impact Assessment on the Final Regulations - Jan. 11, 2008
• DHS FY 2008 REAL ID Grant Awards (state by state) 
• DHS FY 2008 REAL ID Grant Guidance 
• DHS FY 2009 REAL ID Grant Guidance 

Federal Legislation to Amend the REAL ID

• Providing for Additional Security in States' Identification Act of 2009 (PASS ID Act)  
• REAL ID Repeal and Identificaton Security Enhancement Act of 2009

Analysis of the REAL ID

• Joint NCSL/NGA/AAMVA National Impact Analysis 
• Costs to the States 
• NCSL Summaries & Analysis 
• NCSL Legisbrief 

State Responses

• Database of State Legislation 
• Summary of State Legisaltive Activity

Other Resources 

• American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators 
• National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States (9/11 Commission) 
• National Governors Association 
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security 
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security REAL ID Page 
• U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs 
• U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary  

NCSL Policy, Testimony and Correspondence

• NCSL Supports the Identification Security Enhancement Act of 2007 (S. 717) - April 4, 2008 
• NCSL President, Representative Donna Stone of Delaware, testifies before a U.S. Senate Subcommittee - April 29, 2008