LANSING – Bills allowing creation of an enhanced Michigan drivers license passed both the Senate and House on Wednesday, putting the state into position to have a document that would allow Michigan residents to travel to Canada and Mexico without a passport.
The bills do not enact the controversial federally-required Real ID provisions (Michigan received an extension from the federal government several weeks ago, meaning the state does not have to enact the Real ID provisions until December 2009) but do meet the requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.
The bills have to go into effect for the state to be able to participate in a pilot program with the federal Department of Homeland Security on new drivers’ licenses.
The Senate, on 37-0 votes, passed HB 5535 and HB 5536 . The House immediately enrolled HB 5535 because there were no changes, but the other measure, which had amendments, was placed on the agenda for Thursday’s session.
The bills came in the wake of legislation enacted earlier this month to clear up a controversy over whether foreign citizens residing temporarily in the U.S. to be able to get a license in Michigan. In December Attorney General Mike Cox ruled that illegal aliens could not get a license, and in January Secretary of State Terri Land implemented rules that held that only citizens and permanent residents could get licenses. That set off a storm of controversy and concern about foreign citizens living in Michigan as students, business executives and workers or refugees unable to get a license.
Legislation was signed earlier this month allowing for foreign nationals here temporarily to get a license.
The bills specifically allow for the creation of an “enhanced driver’s license” that would include radio chips and space for additional identifying information about a driver, though they outlaw the inclusion of biometric data and require the state to protect individual privacy.
The bills also establish stricter requirements for the types of documents an individual presents to get an enhanced license.
The House separately acted on two Senate-originating bills that deal with state personal identification cards. SB 966 (108-0) requires the Department of State to reject an application if it is not convinced all of it is truthful. And SB 654 (104-3) requires a state ID card to expire on the date a person is no longer considered to be legally present in the United States.
Sara Hubbard, vice president for governmental relations with the Detroit Regional Chamber, said the bills provide a big boost for the state’s economic development efforts especially in encouraging cross-border traffic with Canada.
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