Transportation Cabinet
KENTUCKY LEADS THE NATION IN DEVELOPING NEW ID SYSTEM - TRANSPORTATION CABINET ANNOUNCES FEDERAL GRANT TO BEGIN IMPORTANT PILOT PROJECT

FRANKFORT, KY ( December 16, 2005) – Transportation Cabinet officials announced today that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has awarded $3,000,000 to the Commonwealth for a pilot project related to implementation of the REAL ID Act. REAL ID is a federally mandated program that will eventually replace the Kentucky driver’s license. This new ID will also provide access to services in all federally-controlled places, including airports.

Kentucky’s pilot project involves integrating hardware, software and information management systems, in an effort to identify the best practices to use in the future implementation of the Real ID Act.

“Kentucky is truly at the forefront in developing procedures and systems to make REAL ID function effectively and smoothly nationwide,” said Transportation Cabinet Secretary, Bill Nighbert. We are honored to be designated as one of the first states to take the lead in developing a model program for REAL ID.”

The Transportation Cabinet’s Department of Vehicle Regulation will direct the REAL ID project. “The Department already has processes in place which makes Kentucky’s system an excellent fit for the study,” said David Jackson, Deputy Commissioner of Vehicle Regulation. “The document processing and document retention which will be required for REAL ID is quite substantial and very security-oriented,” Jackson explained. “This three million dollar grant will get us off to the early start we’ll need to meet federal compliance by the 2008 deadline.”

Kentucky is one of only two states to receive a grant for the REAL ID Act Pilot Program.