CSDL State Assessment Map of the 18 "Material Compliance" Benchmarks of REAL ID Regulations

In July, 2009, the Coalition for a Secure Driver’s License (CSDL) completed an interim assessment of individual state’s compliance status with the “18 interim benchmarks” of PL 109-13’s (REAL ID) regulations.

The 18 criteria include improvements in driver’s license and ID card physical security, authentication of source identity documents and protections of applicant’s biographical data. In 2007 and 2008, 44 states and territories sent letters to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stating that they would comply with regulations.

Those states and territories must make their best effort to reach “material compliance” with the 18 benchmarks by December 31, 2009. If the Department of Homeland Security determines that a state has failed to make sufficient progress, DHS has the authority to declare that state’s drivers’ licenses and ID cards be deemed “not compliant for federal purposes.” Federal purposes include entering a federal building or boarding a commercially regulated aircraft.

CSDL produced a map (see above) demonstrating that 27 states have plans to meet the benchmarks by 2010 or are already in “material compliance” with the regulations. The map and an accompanying article appear in the July issue of Federal Computer Week.