Homeland Security grants Missouri's request for REAL ID compliance waiver

Missourians will continue to be able to use an existing driver's license to board domestic flights next year.

The Department of Homeland Security has granted the state's request for a waiver from compliance. Until recently, Missouri had been in violation of federal requirements that DHS had avoided enforcing by implementing a grace period.

In September, Gov. Eric Greitens submitted a plan outlining steps toward "full compliance" between then and March 2019. Until this year, state lawmakers had not passed a bill allowing the Department of Revenue to issue forms of identification that comply with the federal REAL ID Act, an anti-terrorism measure that includes stricter controls on government-issued ID.

The waiver extends the compliance period to Oct. 10, 2018, a DHS spokeswoman said in an email.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Revenue said the state would continue to stay on track with the federal requirements.

Greitens' letter outlining compliance steps includes two phases. The first, with a target date of June 25, includes updating and reviewing how identification cards are designed.

The second, dated March 4, 2019, is more intensive. By then, Missouri hopes to change its license issuance system to comply with the REAL ID requirements for scanning and retaining documents as well as conduct fingerprint background checks on staffers and submit final plans to DHS.

The Department of Revenue will be expected to participate in quarterly progress reviews with DHS, Greitens' wrote.

Because the current waiver expires before Missouri's expected date of final compliance, Missouri will need another extension or waiver late next year.

It was unclear whether the plan Greitens submitted was accepted as presented or whether changes were required.

Homeland Security considers "communications and compliance specifications" to be "privileged information and property of the state in question," said spokeswoman Justine Whelan, who referred questions to Greitens' office.

Greitens' spokesman did not immediately respond to a phone call seeking clarification.