Missouri receives extension on federal Real ID Act

Missouri has been given more time by the federal government to comply with the identification requirements under the Real ID Act.

U.S. Senators Roy Blunt and Claire McCaskill praised the extension.

The state now has until Oct. 10 before state licenses are no longer accepted at federal buildings and nuclear power plants. It comes after a new Missouri law takes effect Aug. 28.

State lawmakers passed the measure this year to give Missourians the option to get compliant driver’s licenses or other ID cards.

Missouri had resisted the federal requirement for several years. In 2009, the state banned compliance over concerns about privacy. The Real ID Act requires states to hold personal documents like birth certificates.

The state will also have to comply with stricter identification requirements for airports, certain federal buildings and military bases.

The federal government has said state-issued licenses or IDs won’t be valid at airports in 2018 if they’re not compliant.

Missouri has until January to comply with those requirements..

A timeline for when Missourians can get a compliant ID has not been established by the Missouri Department of Revenue.

Gov. Eric Greitens spokesman said the state will continue to file for extensions until everyone has a chance to obtain a compliant ID.