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Goals for State-Federal Action

POLICY:	FUNDS IN THE FY 2008 BUDGET RESOLUTION FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REAL ID
COMMITTEE:	BUDGETS AND REVENUE
TYPE:	ACTION

                                          

WHEREAS, on May 11, 2005, the REAL ID Act (act) was enacted as part of supplemental spending bill (P.L. 109-13); and 

WHEREAS, under the act, a state must implement new federal standards for the issuance of drivers licenses (DL) and identification cards (ID) by May 11, 2008 or the federal government will not recognize the state’s DL/ID for federal purposes; and

WHEREAS, under the act, states must have access to five national identity document verification systems, of which only one is operational; and

WHEREAS, a comprehensive analysis of the act conducted by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), National Governors Association and the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators determined implementation of the act would cost states more than $11 billion over its first five years of implementation; and

WHEREAS,  the same study concluded states face a one-time, up front cost of $1 billion;

WHEREAS, the deadline for the implementation of the act is rapidly approaching; and

WHEREAS, Congress and the Administration have failed to provide adequate funds to implement the act; and

BE IT RESOLVED, that NCSL requests the President to include $1 billion in his FY 2008 Budget for one-time, up front costs to states to implement the Real ID; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NCSL requests Congress to include $1 billion in the FY 2008 Budget Resolution for one-time, up front costs to states to implement the Real ID;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NCSL requests the President and Congress to fully fund the federal government’s obligations under the act to develop various document verifications systems for states in the President’s FY2008 Budget Resolution.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that NCSL requests Congress to adopt the necessary changes to the Real ID as outlined in the September 2006 report—The Real ID Act:  National Impact Analysis—issued by NCSL, the National Governors Association and the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that if, by December 31, 2007, Congress does not provide at least $1 billion in federal FY 2008 for one-time, up front costs to states to implement the Real ID and adopt the necessary changes to the Real ID as outlined in the September 2006 report—The Real ID Act:  National Impact Analysis— then NCSL requests that Congress repeal the Real ID Act.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be sent to the President of the United States and to all the members of Congress.