PHOENIX - The Arizona Senate voted Thursday to prohibit the state from implementing a federal law requiring states to comply with security guidelines for driver licenses and state-issued identification cards.
The Senate's 23-5 vote today sends the bill (SB1152) to the state House.
The deadline for states to comply with the Federal Real ID Act of 2005 is May 2008, although the federal Department of Homeland Security announced this month that states can get extensions until Dec. 31, 2009.
Supporters of the Arizona bill have criticized the federal mandate, saying it's unfunded and would effectively create a a national identification card.
At least one senator who voted against the bill previously voiced concern that non-compliance would mean that state residents would not be allowed to use their state-issued identification to board commercial airliners.
Maine has already enacted a similar prohibition on implementation of Real ID, and at least 17 other states are considering similar legislation, according to a National Conference of State Legislatures database.
