issued driver's license and comparable identification documents,

[Federal Register: August 19, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 160)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 44415-44416]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr19au98-27]

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.

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. 98-22314Filed8-18-98; 8:45 am]

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