House OKs bill to make Maine compliant with Real ID law
In a 115-30 vote on Tuesday, the Maine House of Representatives approved a bill that will bring the state into compliance with the federal Real ID law.
The Senate previously approved LD 306 in a 31-4 vote last week. Gov. Paul LePage has urged lawmakers to “unite in going forward with implementation” in order to spare Mainers from pending federal actions against Maine and a handful of states in non-compliance with federal security standards — for example, not being able to use their existing ID cards to board commercial airplanes, beginning in January 2018.
The Portland Press Herald reported that the House bill’s language would allow Maine residents, who might have privacy concerns about the federal Real ID law, to opt out of receiving a driver’s license or identification card that’s compliant with federal standards.
Sponsored by Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Windham, LD 306 repeals a 2007 law that prohibits the state from participating in the federal Real ID Act of 2005 and prevents the Maine Secretary of State from changing procedures for applying for a driver's license or non-driver identification card in a manner to conform to the federal REAL ID Act of 2005.
It also directs the Secretary of State to issue driver's licenses and non-driver identification cards that conform to the federal REAL ID Act of 2005, including meeting its standards for new facial recognition and fingerprinting and requirements involving proof of identity and citizenship at the time of application.
The bill includes a one-time $3.16 million Highway Fund allocation to the Department of the Secretary of State to issue passport books and passport cards. Additional costs associated with establishing and administering an educational campaign can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources, according to the fiscal note attached to the bill.
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