[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 160 (Wednesday, August 19, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 44415-44416]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22314]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

23 CFR Part 1331

[Docket No. NHTSA-98-3945]
RIN 2127-AG91


State-Issued Driver's Licenses and Comparable Identification 
Documents

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 
published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on June 17, 1998, in 
which the agency proposed regulations to implement section 656(b) of 
the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 
1996--State Issued Driver's Licenses and Comparable Identification 
Documents. The comment period for the NPRM closed on August 3, 1998. In 
response to requests for an extension of the comment period, NHTSA is 
reopening the comment period and extending it until October 2, 1998.

DATES: Comments must be received by October 2, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should refer to the docket number and the 
number of this notice, and be submitted (preferably two copies) to: 
Docket Management, Room PL-401, National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 
20590. (Docket hours are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding 
Federal holidays.)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. William Holden, Chief, Driver 
Register and Traffic Records Division, NTS-32, NHTSA, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590; telephone (202) 366-4800, or Ms. 
Heidi L. Coleman, Assistant Chief Counsel for General Law, NCC-30, 
NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590; telephone (202) 
366-1834.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 30, 1996, the Omnibus 
Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 1997, P.L. 104-208, was 
signed into law. Included in the Omnibus Act were the provisions of the 
Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 
(hereinafter, the ``Immigration Reform Act''). Section 656(b) of the 
Act, entitled State-Issued Driver's Licenses and Comparable 
Identification Documents, provides that, after October 1, 2000, Federal 
agencies may not accept as proof of identity driver's licenses or other 
comparable identification documents, issued by a State, unless the 
driver's license or identification document conforms to certain 
requirements.
    Section 656(b) establishes three requirements that State issued 
driver's licenses or other comparable identification documents must 
meet to be acceptable to Federal agencies as proof of identity. The 
requirements concern the application process for driver's licenses and 
identification documents, the form of driver's licenses and 
identification documents (including security features) and the use of 
social security numbers on driver's licenses and identification 
documents. On June 17, 1998 (63 FR 33220), the agency published a 
proposed rule to implement these statutory requirements. Interested 
persons were invited to provide comments on the proposed rule on or 
before August 3, 1998.
    Since that time it has come to the agency's attention that there is 
considerable public interest in the proposed regulations. NHTSA has 
received numerous requests from interested individuals for an extension 
of the comment period in order to have sufficient time to review the 
proposal and prepare comments.
    In addition, on July 29, 1998, concerns regarding the agency's 
proposed rule were expressed in the U.S. House of Representatives by 
Congressman Barr of Georgia; Congressman Smith of Texas, Chairman of 
the Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims; and Congressman Paul of 
Texas. To address these concerns, Congressman Wolf of Virginia, 
Chairman of the Transportation Subcommittee of the House Committee on 
Appropriations, suggested that a meeting take place with NHTSA 
officials. Congressional Record, July 29, 1998, H6736-7.
    A meeting was held on August 4, 1998, in the Office of the 
Transportation Subcommittee of the House Committee on Appropriations. 
Congressman Barr, Chairman Smith and Congressman Paul, Congressional 
staff members and NHTSA representatives attended the meeting. At the 
meeting, the agency was asked to consider reopening the comment period 
for this rulemaking action, to permit all interested parties to have 
sufficient time to consider the agency's proposal and to provide their 
written comments.
    After considering these requests, NHTSA has concluded that it is in 
the public interest to allow additional time for comments. Accordingly, 
the agency

[[Page 44416]]

is reopening the comment period until October 2, 1998. During this 
reopened comment period, it is not necessary for commenters to resubmit 
views that have already been expressed in previous comments.

    Authority: Pub. L. 104-208, 110 Stat. 3009-716 (5 U.S.C. 301) 
delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.

    Issued on: August 14, 1998.
Philip R. Recht,
Deputy Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
[FR Doc. 98-22314 Filed 8-18-98; 8:45 am]
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