On Monday, April 15, it was announced that the director of the Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR), Brian Long, has resigned, effective immediately, from his post as head of DOR. The governor named Deputy Director of Revenue John Mollenkamp as acting director of the department. As your senator, I am very involved in getting to the bottom of DOR’s actions regarding your personal information and am dedicated to protecting your privacy. As Senate Majority Caucus Whip, I was present at the very first meeting conducted by Senate leadership, in which Long was questioned regarding DOR’s practices of scanning and retaining source documents. In fact, I was the senator who was finally able to get Long to publicly admit that DOR could have stopped its unlawful practices, but was unwilling to do so at that time.

In response to DOR’s actions of storing personal information of citizens who go to obtain or renew certain documents into a database, and allegations that DOR is using funding from the federal Department of Homeland Security to implement its new policies, the Missouri Senate requested the state auditor to conduct an audit of DOR as soon as possible. We need the auditor to investigate and confirm the funding sources and total amount that DOR has spent over the last few years to implement its new procedures regarding driver’s licenses and concealed carry permits (CCWs). The auditor confirmed he will audit DOR to see if personal information from driver’s licenses and CCWs has been shared with the federal government. The Legislature is also moving bills forward to help make certain that this type of occurrence doesn’t happen again.

Lawmakers and citizens, alike, are concerned about unknown eyes looking at our personal information and fear a potential breach in security. Identity theft is a growing problem these days, especially with our reliance on digital technology. It’s best to keep private information as guarded as possible; the more entities that view the data, the more likely an infringement of privacy can happen. In 2009, the Missouri Legislature passed a bill (HB 361) I co-sponsored stating that DOR, among other provisions, cannot amend its procedures for applying for a driver’s license or identification card in order to comply with the goals or standards of the federal REAL ID Act of 2005. This bill was passed to help protect Missourians’ privacy, and if DOR is complying with this federal act, it is breaking the law.

Last week, the Senate gave its first-round approval to a bill (SB 252) that will help protect your privacy and addresses the process of obtaining a CCW, among other provisions. Under current law, a Missourian seeking a CCW needs to apply to the sheriff for a certificate of qualification for a CCW endorsement. When that person is issued the certificate, he or she must then present the certificate to DOR, which issues a driver’s or non-driver’s license with a CCW endorsement. This bill would allow the permit issued by the sheriff to be authorization that a Missourian can carry concealed firearms, eliminating DOR from the equation. With one more affirmative vote, the bill will be on its way to the House for consideration.

If you have any questions regarding how the Missouri Legislature is pursuing this matter, please don’t hesitate to contact my Capitol office. My colleagues and I are working diligently to ensure our private information is protected. Thank you and God bless.