Vehicles: driver's licenses.

(1) Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles, upon proper application, to issue driver's licenses and identification cards. This bill would require the department, in the issuance of driver's licenses and identification cards, to issue licenses and cards that are in compliance with specified requirements of the federal Real ID Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-13) . The bill would require the department, on or before January 1, 2011, to issue a driver's license that permits driving and is acceptable by a federal agency for any official purpose, as certified by the federal Secretary of Homeland Security, to an applicant who is in compliance with specified requirements of specified provisions of that federal act. The bill also would require the department, on or before January 1, 2011, in compliance with the federal act, to issue a driver's license that permits driving, and is not acceptable by a federal agency for federal identification or for any other official purpose, to an applicant who does not provide valid documentary evidence of lawful status under the federal act. (2) Existing law requires the department to require every applicant for an original driver's license or identification card to submit satisfactory proof that the applicant's presence in the United States is authorized under federal law and prohibits the department from issuing a driver's license or identification card to a person who does not do so. Existing law requires the department to adopt regulations, including procedures for verifying citizenship or legal residency of applicants for driver's licenses and identification cards, and to make a specified annual report. This bill would repeal those requirements on the date that the Secretary of State receives a notice from the Director of Motor Vehicles that the department has commenced the issuance of driver's licenses in compliance with the implementation of the federal Real ID Act of 2005. (3) Existing law makes it a misdemeanor for a person to knowingly assist in obtaining a driver's license or identification card for a person whose presence in the United States is not authorized under federal law. This bill would repeal that provision, and, instead, would make it a misdemeanor to knowingly assist in obtaining documents for another person in violation of the federal Real ID Act of 2005. These changes would become operative on the date of receipt by the Secretary of State of the notice described above. Because this bill would create a new crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (4) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. (5) The bill would provide that its provisions are severable.