2017-01-23                     Senate Journal                      Page 0072
SB 34                                                                                                                         
SENATE BILL NO. 34 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                                                
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
          "An Act relating to the implementation of the federal                                                                 
          REAL ID Act of 2005; and relating to issuance of                                                                      
          identification cards and driver's licenses; and                                                                       
          providing for an effective date."                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs and Finance                                                           
Committees.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal information was published today:                                                                           
Fiscal Note No. 1, Department of Administration                                                                                 
Fiscal Note No. 2, zero, Department of Military and Veterans Affairs                                                            
Fiscal Note No. 3, zero, Department of Public Safety                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
Governor's transmittal letter dated January 20:                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Dear President Kelly:                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska                                                                   
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill relating to the implementation of                                                        
the federal REAL ID Act of 2005 for the issuance of identification                                                              
cards and driver licenses. The bill intends to allow the Department of                                                          
Administration (Department) to issue both REAL ID compliant and                                                                 
noncompliant identification cards and driver licenses. The bill will                                                            
also remove the funding restriction that prevents the State from                                                                
complying with the REAL ID Act.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
The REAL ID Act of 2005 (Act) is comprised of several sections that                                                             
strengthen federal laws to protect against terrorist entry into the United                                                      
States, improve security for driver licenses and identification cards,                                                          
improve border infrastructure, and changes other aspects of                                                                     
immigration law. In order to prevent terrorists from obtaining state                                                            
driver licenses and identification cards, the Act creates national                                                              
standards for their issuance and manufacture, and mandates what                                                                 
source documents states can use to verify a person's identity. The Act                                                          
does not usurp State authority to issue licenses or identification cards,                                                       
but rather provides stronger oversight to ensure that all licenses and                                                          
identification cards are less subject to tampering and fraud.