By Jason Doyle Oden
Oklahoma’s time to comply with the REAL ID Act is about to run out, but a couple of lawmakers plan to address the issue early next legislative session. The Department of Public Safety received notice that the state would not get an extension which could lead to difficulties with Oklahomans getting access to military and federal facilities as well as commercial airlines.
Representatives Leslie Osborn and Jon Echols are working on a bill to put Oklahoma’s state issued ID system into compliance. It was in 2007 that the Legislature passed a law prohibiting the state from complying with the federal law.
Echols said the Legislature tried to rectify the problem during the previous session.
“Last year, the state Senate and state House passed bills out of their respective chambers that would have brought Oklahoma into compliance with the REAL ID Act, but an agreement on language could not be reached,” said Echols. “Our bill in the House would have not only allowed the state to comply with the federal law, but it also would have implemented real safeguards to protect individuals who reasonably believe that this is a prime example of federal overreach.”
Now the federal law is forcing the hand of lawmakers or Oklahomans could be facing several issues when dealing with air travel or access to federal buildings.
“Unfortunately, the federal government is not giving us much of a choice, despite valid concerns that this law is poorly drafted and will have unintended consequences for individual privacy. As a state legislator, it is very important for me to make every effort within the law to protect my constituents, and I believe we can run legislation early next year that will allow us to comply and safeguard our citizens.”
Osborn said the legislation is being crafted now so that everything will be set to go once the session begins in February.
“We are working closely with the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety and the federal Department of Homeland Security to draft language that will comply with the federal law while also protecting Oklahomans,” said Osborn. “We are confident that early next session we will be able to pass legislation that brings our state into compliance.”
Oklahoma’s grace period to be in compliance with the REAL ID Act ends January 29, 2017, so the next day Oklahoma ID’s won’t be accepted at federal agencies. On January 22, 2018, an Oklahoma issued ID won’t work to board a commercial airline.
