Description:
S. 4133 would provide flexibility to states to meet the standards established in the Real ID Act of 2005 for identification documents that are enforced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The bill also would allow states to accept identity documents that are transmitted electronically if DHS issues regulations regarding such transmission and states certify with DHS that they are in compliance. DHS currently allows states to accept identity information electronically in some circumstances. Using information obtained from the department, CBO expects that broadening the rules regarding electronically transmitted documents and tracking state certifications would not require significant DHS staff or resources. On that basis, CBO estimates that implementing the legislation would cost less than $500,000 over the 2021-2025 period. The bill contains intergovernmental and private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA). CBO estimates that the aggregate cost of the intergovernmental and private-sector mandates would fall below the UMRA thresholds ($84 million and $168 million in 2020, respectively, adjusted annually for inflation). S. 4133 would require states to ensure the security of the production location and of the materials, records, and data from which drivers’ licenses and identification cards are produced. That requirement would impose an intergovernmental mandate on state governments. States also would be required to establish training programs for fraud prevention. The training would be provided to employees engaged in the issuance of drivers’ licenses and identification cards. According to industry sources, the cost for states to comply with the mandates would be small because the current practices of states are consistent with provisions in the bill.
