Missouri lawmakers change liscenses to comply with Federal codes
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Missouri lawmakers change liscenses to comply with Federal codes

Date: April 12, 2016
By: Devon Yarbrough
State Capitol Bureau
Links: HB 2235

JEFFERSON CITY - House General Laws Committee passed a bill, by a 7-2 vote, to allow the Department of Revenue to issue REAL ID cards and licenses that will be compliant with the federal laws.

Under the bill, the REAL ID driving license would be offered as an alternative to Missouri's regular driving licenses.

The measure came in response from warnings by the federal Homeland Security that persons from states that did not comply with the REAL ID requirements ultimately would not be able to use their driving licenses to board airline flights or enter some federal facilities.

Missouri's current law prohibits the state from implementing the REAL ID requirements. Legislators supporting the ban argued against the extra personal information that would be required and stored in government databases to obtain an driving license.

The measure approved by the House committee would establish two types of driving licenses -- the current one and one that requires more information and documents to meet the federal REAL ID standards.

Rep. Tracy McCreery, D-St. Louis County was the only legislator to vote against the bill.

McCreery said that she did not think this bill was efficient and thought there should be only one state ID, rather than options.

"I think that it's up to the legislature to come to some compromise agreement where we can agree on one form of identification for all of Missourians," McCreery said. "I think this is the easy way out by allowing there to be a couple different choices for Missourians."

McCreery added that the creating more options for where Missourians get their ids will create more expenses for the state government. Despite McCreery's doubts about the bill, many of the Representatives of the committee were receptive of the bill. 

Rep. Caleb Jones, R-Columbia, said the bill would give options for Missouri citizens who want to either continue with the already set identification plan or get a new one that was 'real' by the Federal government. 

The bill now goes to the full House.