"An Act relating to issuance of identification cards and to issuance of driver's licenses."

A driver's license is a privilege, not a right. A state has a right to determine its own standards and qualifications, such as a satisfactory score on written tests and driving tests, age, vision, etc.. HB 40 merely adds a qualification to obtain an Alaska driver's license, an alien must have a legal presence in the United States Nothing in the bill would act against the rights of any legal alien in Alaska.

Passage of HB 40 will

1. Strengthen homeland security
2. Help establish legal residency
3. Help prevent voter fraud
4. Increase protection against identity theft

HB 40 will address several of the problems addressed by the April 22, 2004 Anchorage Daily News headline, "INSTITUTE RATES ALASKA DMV AS ONE OF THE MOST LAX IN THE U.S" (Please see attached article).

HB 40 STRENGTHENS HOMELAND SECURITY:

Homeland Security is critical in the post-9/11 era. Homeland Security is a top priority of the President of the United States, and the Governor of Alaska. Alaska has several potential targets of opportunity for terrorists. When a terrorist has access to a legitimate Alaska driver's license, it becomes easier to disappear into a community and plan destruction of Alaska targets. This is an extremely dangerous variety of identity theft. According to US Representative Cass Ballenger (R-NC), "A driver's license or state identification card is an essential tool, used by illegal aliens" (some of whom may be terrorists) "to solidify their presence here and to move about freely. This is a clear threat to our safety and economic security."

HB 40 HELPS DETERMINE LEGAL RESIDENCY:

State residency is a legal requirement for an Alaska driver's license. Obviously, illegal aliens cannot be legal resident of any state, including Alaska. If Alaska provides illegal aliens with driver's licenses, the state enables false appearance of legal residence to an illegal alien who is, by definition, ineligible for a license, as well as being a lawbreaker.

HB 40 HELPS PREVENT VOTER FRAUD:

An illegal alien with an Alaska driver's license, would enable a non-citizen of Alaska to register to vote under the Motor Voter Act. Voter registration forms are available at DMV offices. We should protect the integrity of our Alaska voter rolls.

HB 40 HELPS PREVENT IDENTITY THEFT:

State-issued driver's licenses have become the de facto primary identity document throughout Alaska and the United States. In fact, driver's licenses are so generally requested, for purposes unrelated to driving, that motor vehicle administrations also issue identity cards for non-drivers.

A significant problem is that driver's licenses are a "breeder document" that can provide access to many other documents, and facilitate "identity theft."

Once a person has obtained a driver's license, the license can be used in many other state. Worse, a driver's license can easily be exchanged for a different state's license. An exchange is faster and requires much less documentation than a new issue.

NO BURDEN ON HOLDERS OF CURRENT ALASKA DRIVERS LICENSES:

HB 40 applies only to new applicants for Alaska driver's licenses. The holder of a current Alaska driver's license may renew their license, obtain a replacement for a lost driver's license, or effect a change of legal name, without having to prove United States citizenship or legal presence as an alien.

IN SUMMARY:

HB 40 is needed to strengthen homeland security, help establish legal residency, help prevent voter fraud, and increase protection against identity theft.

Your favorable vote on HB 40 is urged.

# # #