ST. PAUL – Members of the Minnesota House of Representatives approved legislation that would allow Minnesota to prepare for the implementation of REAL ID. A member of the REAL ID Legislative Working Group, State Representative Ron Kresha, R-Little Falls, voted in favor of the measure.
“We need to make sure Minnesotans could fly with their current ID, and this bill starts us down that road,” said Kresha.
In January, the Department of Homeland Security told Minnesota it had until 2018 to develop REAL ID-compliant licenses in order for residents to board an airplane. Currently Minnesota's licenses do not comply with the federal REAL ID Act.
Minnesota had previously approved a law barring Minnesota's Department of Public Safety (DPS) from even discussing REAL ID compliance with Homeland Security. The measure approved by the House recently would eliminate that ban and allow the process to begin.
“DPS can now research REAL ID, and request extensions beyond the current 2018 deadline,” said Kresha. “There’s no reason to worry about REAL ID compliance, we’re taking care of it.”
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