REAL ID

The legislative office has participated in various legislative hearings highlighting the civil liberties concerns regarding the implementation in California of the federal Real ID Act, a measure passed in 2005 that would create a federal identity document that every American would need in order to fly on commercial airlines, enter government buildings, open a bank account, and to engage in countless other transactions. The May revision of the Governor’s budget for 2006-07 and subsequent Finance Letters are nearly certain to contain funding for this implementation, due in 2008. Subsequent budget hearings --in late May and early June-- provided an opportunity for public testimony.