ACR168

A Concurrent Resolution urging the federal government to extend the deadline for the “REAL ID Act of 2005.”

Whereas, In 2005, the United States Congress passed the “REAL ID Act of 2005,” Pub.L.109-13 to implement certain recommendations from the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, including setting federal standards for the issuance of certain identification, including state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards; and

Whereas, “The REAL ID Act of 2005” establishes minimum standards for identification and prohibits federal agencies from accepting non-compliant identification for the purpose of accessing federal facilities, entering nuclear power plants, and boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft; and

Whereas, After the federal deadline of October 1, 2020, a person must present a REAL ID compliant state-issued driver’s license or identification card or other acceptable form of identification in order to access these facilities and board federally regulated commercial aircraft; and

Whereas, The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission began issuing REAL ID compliant State driver’s licenses and identification cards in 2019 and, according to the commission’s annual report, the commission has issued approximately 7,000 REAL ID compliant identifications; and

Whereas, On January 31, 2020, the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency for the United States in response to the rapid spread of a novel respiratory illness, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), throughout the country; and

Whereas, On March 9, 2020, Governor Philip D. Murphy declared and proclaimed the existence of a public health emergency and state of emergency in the State of New Jersey in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of the people of New Jersey; and

Whereas, According to the New Jersey Department of Health, there are 98 reported cases of COVID-19 in New Jersey, including two deaths as of March 15, 2020; and

Whereas, Due to COVID-19 outbreak, starting Monday, March 16, 2020, all New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission agencies, road testing, and inspection facilities are closed for approximately two weeks; and

Whereas, The closure of New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission agencies and facilities during the COVID-19 public health emergency significantly limits the amount of time New Jersey residents may apply for and receive REAL ID compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards in preparation for the October 1, 2020 federal deadline; and

Whereas, Taking into account the effect that the COVID-19 outbreak has on the availability of receiving REAL ID compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards by the October 1, 2020 deadline, it is altogether fitting and proper for the Legislature of the State of New Jersey to urge the federal government to extend the deadline for the “REAL ID Act of 2005”; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):

1. The Legislature urges the federal government to extend the deadline for the “REAL ID Act of 2005” amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency to provide New Jersey residents more time to apply for and receive State-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards that comply with the provisions of the “REAL ID Act of 2005,” Pub.L.109-13.

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to the President of the United States, Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security, Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, and each member of the United States Congress elected from this State.

STATEMENT

Due to the public health emergency caused by the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), this concurrent resolution urges the federal government to extend the deadline for the “REAL ID Act of 2005” (the Act). On October 1, 2020, federal agencies are prohibited from accepting state-issued identification that does not comply with the provisions of the Act for the purposes of accessing federal facilities, boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft, and entering nuclear power plants.