Legislature sends anti-scanning bill to governor

The state’s new driver’s license system — which has prompted the Department of Revenue to make and keep electronic copies of identification documents, including birth certificates and marriage licenses — has been the subject of intense scrutiny at the Capitol this session.

The anti-scanning bill, which passed the House and Senate with bipartisan veto-proof majorities, got its final round of approval in the Senate today.

Proponents of the legislation say it will protect the privacy of thousands of Missourians.

Meanwhile, supporters of the current scanning policy have argued that it helps make driver’s licenses more secure and thwarts fraud. Revenue Department officials also say the electronic copies of the documents are securely held in a state data center in Jefferson City.

The ongoing controversy has spawned at least one lawsuit, countless hearings at the Capitol and several side issues over how the state handles residents’ private information. It also has given Republican legislators plenty of ammunition against the administration of Nixon.

Amid the growing dispute, Revenue Department director Brian Long abruptly in April month after just four months at the post. The following day, Nixon announced the department would no longer scan documents related to concealed gun permits, as it had been doing through the new system.

It’s not yet clear whether Nixon, whose office has referred questions about the driver’s license system to the Revenue Department, plans to sign or reject the bill. During a brief news conference last month after announcing that the concealed weapons permits would no longer be scanned, the governor said he would stand by the Revenue Department as it reviewed its policies. He also has been critical of the Legislature's decision to cut DOR's funding.