In 2009, the Missouri General Assembly passed legislation stating Missouri would not comply with the new federal – REAL ID law. Missouri is one of 11 states not in compliance with the REAL ID requirements. State officials are still currently working with the federal government on an extension plan for our state in order to comply with the REAL ID standards.
The REAL ID Act of 2005, was passed by Congress after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. The federal law sets standards for how states should issue forms of photographic identification. During the 2017 legislative session the Legislature passed Senate Bill 151, which allows the Department of Revenue to give citizens the option of applying for a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license. The new law does includes several security measures aiming to protect Missourians personal information, it does not allow the state to store social security numbers in databases that can be accessed by other state or federal departments.
The federal government had issued Missouri an extension until Oct 10, to be in compliance with the REAL ID law. While that deadline has passed, the Department of Homeland Security has granted Missouri a grace period so that current IDs can still be used on military bases and federal facilities. Missouri has applied for an extension through March 4, 2019, but there has been no announcement if the extension has been granted.
Currently, Missourians can still use their IDs for air travel and for access to military basses and other federal facilities. However, air travel enforcement of REAL ID does begin on Jan. 22, 2018. After that date, without a federal extension, Missourians will need additional identification to board domestic flights.
I will continue to monitor the situation and will be sure to update my constituents as soon as we have more information.
Thank you for reading this weekly column. Please contact my office at (573) 751-3678 if you have any questions.