THE ASSEMBLY STATE OF NEW YORK cuRMAN Cem on Soaramse Development ALBANY ‘lp Creston, Commerce and Indus) CconeurrEES: ‘Coase ROBIN ScHnmaNGER ay ‘Thank you for contacting me in regard to proposals being discussed in Albany to allow illegal immigrants to obtain New York State driver’s licenses. May 7, 2018 Please be assured that I share your concerns. When such a plan was advanced by then Governor Spitzer in 2007, I strongly opposed it. While the growing problem of unlicensed and uninsured motorists must be addressed, I certainly do not believe that this is the best approach, I had serious qualms over the seeurity impacts of Governor Spitzer’s plan, which he soon abandoned under pressure from state legislators, other officials and the public, and I remain skeptical that any current plan — via legislative enactment or administrative decree by Governor Cuomo — would avoid those shortcomings. Legislation has been introduced recently in the Assembly, A.10273, that would allow immigrants in the country illegally to get a standard driver's license using a passport that was issued in another country as identification. Advocates estimate that 265,000 undocumented immigrants would get licenses if this measure becomes law. A.10273 is under review in the Assembly Transportation Committee. As of today, a matching bill has not been introduced in the State Senate, Aides to Governor Cuomo have stated that he would sign such legislation into law if passed by both houses. T remain concerned that, if enacted, such a law would dilute the validity of all N.Y.S. driver's licenses. A driver's license is among the acceptable forms of government-issued ‘identification that is needed to board a commercial airliner. If U.S. Transportation Security Agency officials determine that the security of New York State’s licenses are compromised or undermined, our driver's licenses may no longer be valid IDs for this purpose. Banks and other institutions that requite a valid driver’s license or non-driver ID for identification purposes may follow suit. ‘How such a change might negatively impact the status of “enhanced” New York driver's licenses is also.a concern, ‘These more secure licenses, which are imbedded with RFID (radio frequeney identification) data and are available to New York motorists as an option, presently substitute as a less costly altemative to the federal government's requirement that passports or 514 Deawate Avenue, Kenmore, New Yo 14217-1250, (716) 072-2540 ‘Room 647, Litive OiceButsng, Albany, New Yow 12046-2001, (16) <5-4767‘passport cards be presented when returning to the U.S. from Canada at land border crossings, like our Niagara River bridges. We shouldn’t be undermining this effort to make crossing the ULS.-Canada border easier, which has been a benefit to cross-border travel here in Western New York, by any alteration to DMY’s security policies and procedures. Given these ongoing concerns, I continue to oppose such initiatives and will vote against ‘A.10273 or similar legislation should any such measure ever come before me. Again, thanks for taking out the time to contact me on this matter of mutual concer. Sincerely yours, Robin Schimminger