New York state granted 1-year extension on ID law

New York state has been given a one-year extension to comply with a federal law that requires more advanced identification for airline travel, Syracuse.com reported.

New York is one of four states that has not complied with the Real ID Act, which was enacted in 2005 and requires states to issue more secure IDs. The purpose of the act is “to improve the reliability and accuracy of state-issued identification documents,” according to the Department of Homeland Security. Since the law was put into effect, New York, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire and American Samoa have not complied.

Because the states and territory didn’t meet the federal standards, they were going to be required to have more advanced identification, such as a passport or enhanced license, by Jan. 1, 2016. Now the areas have one more year to comply with the law.

Of the four noncompliant states, only New York and Minnesota offer enhanced licenses. Enhanced licenses in New York cost about $30 more than a standard license.

The law was a recommendation from a 9/11 commission that pushed the federal government to “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses,” according to the Department of Homeland Security.