This bill lets the Secretary of State allow certain public libraries to act as passport acceptance centers. Eligible libraries must be organized as a nongovernmental organization, nonprofit, charitable organization, or trust and follow State Department rules. Authorized libraries may collect and keep the passport "execution fee" for applications they accept. The bill also requires the Secretary to authorize, within 30 days of enactment, any public library that previously served as an acceptance facility and that was following the Department's rules before enactment. The Secretary must send a report to relevant congressional committees within 30 days showing compliance or explaining why the Secretary did not comply. The bill changes the Passport Act text to include qualifying public libraries among authorized acceptance locations.
If your local public library meets the organization and compliance rules, it could accept passport applications and keep the execution fee charged for those applications. Libraries that already served as acceptance facilities and were following State Department rules before this law would be authorized quickly after enactment. The State Department will report to Congress about the required authorizations.
No publicly available information on federal costs or savings. The bill lets qualifying libraries collect and retain the execution fee, but it does not set fee amounts or provide a federal budget estimate.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.