SF 4450

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 03/27/2020 08:42am

A resolution
requesting that Congress and the United States Secretary of Homeland Security extend
the date for the full implementation of the REAL ID Act and make related changes to
federal law.

WHEREAS, Minnesota is facing unprecedented challenges due to the infectious disease
known as COVID-19 and its catastrophic effects on our economy; and

WHEREAS, Minnesota has complied with the federal requirements of the REAL ID Act and
is issuing compliant drivers' licenses and identification cards; and

WHEREAS, Minnesota does not allow a person to obtain a driver's license or state
identification card online and the in-person offices that issue drivers' licenses and state identification
cards are rapidly closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic; and

WHEREAS, many Minnesota residents will likely not be able to comply with federal REAL
ID requirements because of office closures and the various constraints imposed by the public health
response to the COVID-19 pandemic; and

WHEREAS, even under the best scenarios, Minnesota was forecasting significant delays in
wait times at service counters and the amount of time it subsequently takes to receive the card; and

WHEREAS, the current pandemic makes the required in-person application and issuance
procedures a potential violation of current public health guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention; and

WHEREAS, a delay in the implementation date of REAL ID requirements will help alleviate
complication and confusion and will allow time for important administrative and statutory changes;
NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota that it requests Congress
and the United States Secretary of Homeland Security to extend the deadline for full implementation
of the REAL ID Act by least one calendar year.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of the State of Minnesota advises Congress
and the United States Secretary of Homeland Security make the following regulatory and statutory
changes in order to modernize the law and expedite Minnesota's issuance of REAL ID compliant
drivers' licenses and identification cards:

(1) update the list of acceptable REAL ID identity verification documents for application
presentation, including documents currently accepted by the Transportation Security Administration
for satisfying airport security protocol;

(2) launch a nationwide public awareness campaign to give the public information they need
to avoid excessive delays in obtaining a REAL ID compliant driver's license or identification card;

(3) create a means of granting exceptions from the REAL ID requirements for older applicants
and already-vetted populations;

(4) allow for REAL ID reciprocity between states;

(5) grant much-needed funding to states to support increased staffing, training, and public
education efforts;

(6) allow flexibility for the states to respond to technological innovations, including but not
limited to allowing the acceptance of electronic verification of documents through federal and state
systems rather than requiring in-person presentation of paper documents; and

(7) permit the states to use information from currently existing federal trusted traveler programs
with satisfactory identity verifications, such as TSA PreCheck and Global Entry.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota is directed
to prepare copies of this memorial and transmit them to the President of the United States, the
President and the Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and the Clerk of the United
States House of Representatives, Minnesota's Senators and Representatives in Congress, and the
United States Secretary of Homeland Security.