State Driver's License and Identification Enrollment Program

Section 7209 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (Public Law 108–458; 8 U.S.C. 1185 note) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(e)

State Driver's License and Identification Card Enrollment Program

(1)

In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish a State Driver's License and Identity Card Enrollment Program as described in this subsection (hereinafter in this subsection referred to as the Program) and enter into a memorandum of understanding with an appropriate official of each State that elects to participate in the Program. (2)

Purpose

The purpose of the Program is to permit a citizen of the United States who produces a driver’s license or identity card that meets the requirements of paragraph (3) or a citizen of Canada who produces a document described in paragraph (4) to enter the United States from Canada without providing any other documentation or evidence of citizenship. (3)

Admission of citizens of the United States

A driver's license or identity card meets the requirements of this subparagraph if— (A)the license or card— (i)was issued by a State that is participating in the Program; (ii)meets the requirements of section 202 of the REAL ID Act of 2005 (division B of Public Law 109–13; 49 U.S.C. 30301 note); and (iii)includes the United States citizenship status of the individual to whom the license or card was issued; and (B)the State that issued the license or card— (i)has a mechanism that is approved by the Secretary of State to verify the United States citizenship status of an applicant for such a license or card; (ii)does not require an individual to include the individual’s citizenship status on such a license or card; and (iii)manages all information regarding an applicant's United States citizenship status in the same manner as such information collected through the United States passport application process and prohibits any other use or distribution of such information. (4)

Admission of citizens of Canada

(A)

In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security determine that an identity document issued by the Government of Canada or by the Government of a Province or Territory of Canada meets security and information requirements comparable to the requirements for a driver's license or identity card described in paragraph (3), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall permit a citizen of Canada to enter the United States from Canada using such a document without providing any other documentation or evidence of Canadian citizenship. (B)

Technology standards

The Secretary of Homeland Security shall work, to the maximum extent possible, to ensure that an identification document issued by Canada that permits entry into the United States under subparagraph (A) utilizes technology similar to the technology utilized by identification documents issued by the United States or any State. (5)

Admission of children

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall permit an individual to enter the United States without providing any evidence of citizenship if— (A)the individual— (i)is less than 16 years old; (ii)is accompanied by the individual's legal guardian; and (iii)is entering the United States from Canada or another country if the Secretary permits an individual to enter the United States from that country under the Program pursuant to paragraph (6)(A); and (B)such legal guardian provides a driver's license or identity card described in paragraph (3), a document described in paragraph (4), or other evidence of citizenship if the Secretary permits an individual to enter the United States using such evidence under the Program pursuant to paragraph (6)(B). (6)

Authority to expand

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security may expand the Program to permit an individual to enter the United States— (A)from a country other than Canada; or (B)using evidence of citizenship other than a driver's license or identity card described in paragraph (3) or a document described in paragraph (4). (7)

Relationship to other requirements

Nothing in this subsection shall have the effect of creating a national identity card or a certification of citizenship for any purpose other than admission into the United States as described in this subsection. (8)

State defined

In this subsection, the term State means any of the several States of the United States, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Virgin Islands of the United States, or any other territory or possession of the United States. (9)

Schedule for implementation

(A)

In general

The Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State shall implement the Program not later than December 31, 2009. (B)

Admission prior to implementation

During the time period beginning on the date of the enactment of the Northern Border Travel Facilitation Act and ending on the date that the Program is implemented, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall permit an individual who is a citizen of the United States or Canada to enter the United States from Canada if that individual can demonstrate United States or Canadian citizenship to the satisfaction of the Secretary. Birth certificates issued by a State, or by the Government of Canada or by the Government of a Province or Territory of Canada, or a citizenship certificate or card issued by the Government of Canada shall be deemed to be a satisfactory demonstration of citizenship under this subparagraph.