Kentucky is being granted an extension in its efforts to meet new federal guidelines related to the REAL ID Act. Without the extension, those with a Kentucky driver’s license would have had to produce another form of government-issued ID, such as a birth certificate or U.S passport, to gain entrance to many federal properties.
The extension runs through October of 2015, and is renewable.
Congress passed the REAL ID Act in 2005 following recommendations by the 9/11 Commission. That group suggested higher security standards regarding the issuing of identifications such as driver’s licenses. The REAL ID Act mandates that driver’s licenses be issued by a single entity, such as a statewide department of motor vehicles.
Kentucky has no such office and instead issues driver’s licenses at the offices of its 142 circuit court clerks.
According to a news release from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the Department of Homeland Security told Governor Steve Beshear it recognizes the recent state-of-the-art security features that the commonwealth has added to its driver’s licenses.
A security assessment of the 142 circuit court clerks' offices in Kentucky is currently underway.
