STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1198-12
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2012
RE: S.B. No. 2506
S.D. 2
H.D. 1
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-Sixth State Legislature
Regular Session of 2012
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred S.B. No. 2506, S.D. 2, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CIVIL IDENTIFICATION,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to consolidate the State non-driver's identification program with the driver's license program under the Department of Transportation.
Specifically, this measure, among other things:
(1) Transfers the responsibility of the program for the issuance of non-driver's identification cards for the State of Hawaii from the Department of the Attorney General to the Director of Transportation; and
(2) Requires that the non-drivers' identification cards be issued by the examiner of drivers in each county.
In 2005, the United States Congress passed the REAL ID Act of 2005 which set forth the documentation required and procedures to be followed in issuing drivers’ licenses and non-drivers’ identification cards. The provisions of the REAL ID Act must be implemented by January 15, 2013. At that time, each state will only be allowed to issue one compliant card, either a driver’s license or a non-driver’s identification card, to a citizen. Drivers’ licenses and non-drivers’ identification cards that do not comply with the REAL ID Act on or after January 15, 2013, will not be recognized by federal agencies, such as the Transportation Security Administration and may not be recognized by other states. The requirements of the REAL ID Act must be implemented on a timely basis so that Hawaii’s citizens are able to travel and to do business with the federal government and other states.
Hawaii is unique among the 50 states in that the counties, under the general supervision of the Director of the Department of Transportation, have been delegated the function of implementing the state driver's license program. Non-driver license identification cards are issued under the Department of the Attorney General. The consolidation of the driver's license and non-driver's identification card programs for the State of Hawaii under the Director of Transportation would be in the best interest of the people of Hawaii both from a local and national perspective. Allowing non-drivers' identification cards to be issued by the examiner of drivers of each county in the same manner that licenses are issued would provide the public with more locations to obtain a non-driver's identification card and will result in a more coordinated effort in implementing the provisions of the REAL ID Act.
However, your Committee has been informed that current language in the measure needs to be amended to be in compliance with the federal requirement that only one REAL ID compliant credential be issued to an individual. Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by clarifying certain cancellation requirements of the REAL ID compliant identification card by the examiner of drivers. Technical, nonsubstantive amendments were also made for clarity, consistency, and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2506, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2506, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,
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____________________________ JOSEPH M. SOUKI, Chair |
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