Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

H.B. 780
                          GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
                                                                                               Apr 18, 2023
                                      SESSION 2023                                       HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK
     H                                                                                                  D
                                    HOUSE BILL DRH10381-NE-138
     Short Title:   State ID Cards for High School Students.                                      (Public)
     Sponsors:      Representative Budd.
     Referred to:
                                     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A PILOT PROGRAM TO ISSUE REAL ID COMPLIANT
     SPECIAL IDENTIFICATION CARDS TO STUDENTS IN PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS IN
     ANSON, GASTON, MECKLENBURG, AND UNION COUNTIES.
 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
              SECTION 1. Definition. – For purposes of this act, the term "State Identification
 Card" means a special identification card, as described in G.S. 20-37.7, that is also Real ID
 Act-compliant.
              SECTION 2. Requirement to Establish Pilot Program. – By no later than December
 31, 2024, the Division of Motor Vehicles of the Department of Transportation (DMV), in
 conjunction with the State Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and the governing bodies of
 public school units with high schools located in Anson, Gaston, Mecklenburg, and Union
 Counties, shall establish and implement a pilot program to issue a State Identification Card to
 eligible students in public high schools.
              SECTION 3. Minimum Standards. – The pilot program established pursuant to this
 act shall, at minimum, meet all of the following requirements:
              (1)    Students that are (i) at least 16 years old and (ii) enrolled in a public high
                     school located within Anson, Gaston, Mecklenburg, or Union Counties shall
                     be eligible to receive a State Identification Card.
              (2)    DMV shall issue a State Identification Card upon request to any eligible
                     student. Issuance of the State Identification Card shall be free of charge to all
                     of the following:
                     a.      Students eligible to receive free or reduced-price lunch.
                     b.      Students in foster care, as that term is defined in G.S. 131D-10.2.
                     c.      Students that establish a financial inability to pay any fee required for
                             the issuance of a State Identification Card.
              (3)    DMV, DPI, and the governing bodies of public high schools located in Anson,
                     Gaston, Mecklenburg, and Union Counties shall provide information to
                     students and parents regarding the issuance of State Identification Cards, and
                     shall also provide students and parents the opportunity to establish a financial
                     inability to pay any fee required for the issuance of a State Identification Card.
              (4)    DMV, DPI, and the governing bodies of public high schools located in Anson,
                     Gaston, Mecklenburg, and Union Counties shall coordinate scheduled time to
                     give students the opportunity to obtain State Identification Cards. Time to
                     obtain a State Identification Card shall be scheduled on one instructional day
                     prior to December 31 of that school year and one instructional day after
                                   *DRH10381-NE-138*
     General Assembly Of North Carolina                                                   Session 2023
                  December 31 of that school year. If students travel to a DMV location to
                  obtain the State Identification Card, the DMV shall have a dedicated terminal
                  for students during that time. A DMV mobile office may also be used to satisfy
                  this requirement.
             (5)  Upon the request of a student, the student's high school shall provide the DMV
                  with the information required to complete a State Identification Card
                  application. This information shall be provided in a manner prescribed by the
                  DMV.
             (6)  Notwithstanding G.S. 130A-93 or any other law to the contrary, the State
                  Registrar is authorized to issue a certified copy of a student's birth certificate
                  to the governing body of a public high school or the Division upon a student's
                  request in connection with a State Identification Card application. The
                  certified copy of the student's birth certificate is not a public record.
             SECTION 4. Expiration of the Pilot Program. – The pilot program required by this
 act expires December 31, 2026.
             SECTION 5. Applicability. – This act applies to public high schools located in
 Anson, Gaston, Mecklenburg, and Union Counties only.
             SECTION 6. Effective Date. – This act is effective when it becomes law.
     Page 2                                                                        DRH10381-NE-138
Statutes affected: 
Edition 2: 20-37.7
Edition 3: 20-37.7