SB 189-REQUIREMENTS FOR DRIVER'S LICENSE/I.D.  3:41:03 PM CHAIR THERRIAULT announced SB 189 to be up for consideration. SENATOR HUGGINS, Sponsor of SB 189, explained that the bill is an effort to prevent individuals who are in the US illegally from obtaining an Alaska driver's license. It would also reinforce implementation of the federal Real ID Act. DEBORAH GRUNDMANN, Staff to Senator Huggins, drew attention to the proposed work draft committee substitute (CS) 24-LS0920\L. CHAIR THERRIAULT asked for a motion. SENATOR HUGGINS motioned to adopt the \L version of SB 189 as the working document. There was no objection. MS. GRUNDMANN paraphrased the sponsor statement. On May 11, 2005 President Bush signed into law the Real ID Act. Provisions of this legislation improved security for drivers' licenses and personal identification cards as well as set uniform standards for state driver's licenses and identification cards. CSSB 189 is designed to bring Alaska into compliance with two components of the new federal, Real ID Act. One, all driver's licenses and ID card applicants must be either US citizens or be able to establish their legal presence. And those persons with a time limited legal status may not receive a driver's license or ID card with an expiration date later than the allowable length of stay. She further explained that if a non-citizen's stay is indefinite, the expiration date of the license is one year from the date of issue and that Alaska has until May 11, 2008 to come into compliance with the federal act. MS. GRUNDMANN introduced Duane Bannock. CHAIR THERRIAULT informed committee members that he didn't intend to take final action on the bill that day. 3:44:05 PM DUANE BANNOCK, Director, Division of Motor Vehicles, Department of Administration, stated that he was pleased to report that Alaska is close to 100 percent compliance with the federal Real ID Act. He reiterated Ms. Grundmann's explanation of the bill, which clarifies in statute that to receive an Alaska driver's license or state ID card the applicant must provide proof that he/she is in the US legally. The second part of the bill addresses the length of time the driver's license or ID is valid. Under current law licenses are valid for five years and no consideration is given to the fact that some visas may be valid for less than that length of time. SB 189 proposes that the expiration date for the driver's license or ID may not extend beyond the time the individual may legally remain in the US. 3:48:40 PM SENATOR ELTON questioned whether he would be required to prove he's a US resident when his license is due for renewal. MR. BANNOCK replied, "That is a correct assumption of the bill." SENATOR ELTON asked what kind of identification would be required. MR. BANNOCK responded the most common primary pieces of identification are the birth certificate and the Social Security card. A list of other valid documents is currently being developed. SENATOR ELTON asked if it's true that an illegal Social Security card is easy to obtain. MR. BANNOCK responded although not the most secure identification, DMV uses Social Security cards as a secondary identifier. Thru regulation DMV requires use of one primary identifier and one secondary identifier or two primary identifiers. SENATOR ELTON asked for clarification that he would need two documents. MR. BANNOCK said that's correct. SENATOR ELTON questioned whether the bill codifies in statute what is current practice and if that's true, how long it has been the practice. MR. BANNOCK said by regulation DMV has been requiring the identification outlined above, but he didn't know how long that has been the practice. SENATOR ELTON remarked he doesn't remember ever showing the required documents when he renewed his license. MS. GRUNDMANN referenced the bill and explained that if the driver's license hasn't expired, been canceled, suspended or revoked the presumption is that you have met the identification standard. SENATOR ELTON asked whether that applies to the grace period when a license has expired. MR. BANNOCK answered the grace period is specific to the testing requirements. He added that under the provisions of this bill DMV would no longer take another state's license as proof that the applicant is in the US legally. 3:55:55 PM CHAIR THERRIAULT closed public testimony and announced he would hold SB 189 in committee.