Perata Calls On Governor To Address California's Concerns With REAL ID Act

Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland) also thinks Real ID is a real problem.

In a press release issued today, Perata says:

"Proposed federal regulations offer little to California on issues like cost, schedule, privacy, or new computer system requirements," Perata said. "This is one of the most egregious examples of an unfunded mandate, where the federal government says that this is a national security problem and then offloads responsibility and costs to the states. Our Governor must tell the White House that if California is not satisfied, we're not complying. I would venture to say that if California doesn't go, a lot of other states are going to say, 'why should we?'"

Twenty-eight states across the nation have already come to the realization that Real ID is a really bad idea. A growing bipartisan rebellion against Real ID is currently underway around the country. In January, the Maine Legislature passed a resolution rejecting participation in the ID scheme. Legislation was also passed recently in Idaho. Similar legislation has been passed by one chamber in the legislatures of Arizona, Georgia, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, Vermont, and Wyoming. Bills rejecting Real ID have also been introduced in Arizona, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia.

For a map and description of legislation in the different states and more information about the Real ID Act, please visit RealNightmare.org.

You can read the ACLU Scorecard on Real ID: Failing Grade here.

To read a recent ACLU of Northern California press release about the draft federal regulations click here.

Press Release: Perata Calls on Governor to Address California's Concerns with Real ID Act

Sacramento – Today the Senate Rules Committee voted in support of confirming George Valverde as Director of the Department of Motor Vehicles. Senate President pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland), Chair of the Rules Committee, commended Valverde for the changes he has made to make the DMV more efficient, but warned that the implementation of REAL ID, the federal law aimed at making driver's licenses more secure forms of identification, threatens those efficiencies. Perata called on the Governor to make the case to the federal government.

"Proposed federal regulations offer little to California on issues like cost, schedule, privacy, or new computer system requirements," Perata said. "This is one of the most egregious examples of an unfunded mandate, where the federal government says that this is a national security problem and then offloads responsibility and costs to the states. Our Governor must tell the White House that if California is not satisfied, we're not complying. I would venture to say that if California doesn't go, a lot of other states are going to say, 'why should we?'"

Thus far, the Schwarzenegger Administration has failed to get the Bush Administration to address California's concerns on:

COST: The DMV estimates that REAL ID implementation will cost at least $500 million in California over five years. The Bush Administration denied Director Valverde's request for reimbursement for the $18.8 million appropriated in last year's budget for REAL ID planning.

TIMELINE: The DMV has advocated for a 10-year implementation schedule to re-enroll all 22 million licensed drivers. This timeline would save money and improve operational efficiencies at the DMV. The proposed federal regulations allow states to begin implementation at a later date (from May 2008 to January 2010), but still requires all drivers to be re-licensed by 2013. This timeline requires the DMV to process more applicants in a shorter window of time, adding to lines in field offices.

SCHEDULE: The DMV has notified the federal government that the rulemaking schedule makes it difficult to move conforming state legislation and provide any state funding for REAL ID compliance this year. The regulations, originally set for public release in fall 2006, were released this month. The final rulemaking may not be adopted until October 2007, making any state legislative action or appropriation this year unlikely.

DOCUMENT VERIFICATION SYSTEM NOT READY: The DMV has consistently informed the federal government that if states are to verify the authenticity of identifying documents, the federally-required computer systems for verification must be operational. Today only two of the five needed systems are in place. The federal regulations leave it to the states to figure out the operational aspects of the remaining three systems.

Valverde's confirmation will be taken up on the Senate floor next week.