Gov. Baker To Sign Bill Requiring Proof Of Legal Citizenship For Driver's Licenses
BOSTON (CBS) -- Gov. Charlie Baker says he will sign a bill that will prevent those who cannot prove they are legally in the United States from being issued a driver's license.
The measure would bring Massachusetts into compliance with the federal "Real ID" law.
"I think it gives us the ability to move forward on a Real ID program, which we need," Gov. Baker told WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Ben Parker. "It will roll out over the course of several years as we go through the process of implementing the elements that are associated with it."
Gov. Baker had filed amendments to the bill following concerns that one section of the measure didn't clearly make a reference to the requirement that one must be lawfully in the country in order to get a license or ID card from the registry.
Baker filed the bill, which would put Massachusetts on track to issue the Real ID-compliant licenses by 2020.
"The goal here is going to be to make this as painless as possible for people," said Baker. "And it's not something anybody's going to have to do anything about right away. There's a long way to go here before we get to the point where we start putting federally-qualified driver's licenses into the marketplace."
Originally, lawmakers wanted a two-tiered licensing system, which would have allowed those who can't produce documentation to still acquire a license. That would not have been compliant with federal law.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Ben Parker reports
