Council File: 02-0399
Title
IDENTITY CARDS ISSUED BY MEXICAN / FOREIGN CONSULATES
Subject
Motion - In the past three months Mexican immigrants have deposited more than $50 million in banks throughout California and they have been able to use, among other identification documents, their Identification (ID) cards issued by the Consulate of Mexico. Among the banks accepting this form of identification are Wells Fargo, Bank of America, the California Credit Union. U.S. Bank and California Union Bank. The Mexican government issues the identification cards known as "matricula consular," to residents living abroad who can prove Mexican citizenship. The cards are state-of-the-art photo ID's with safeguards to prevent counter-fitting.
The use of these identity cards is being accepted by more and more agencies and entities in this region as well as in San Francisco, Albuquerque and Austin. Santa Ana was the first city in the nation to accept cards issued by the Mexican consulate - and from other foreign governments - as legal identification. The Oakland City Council voted on February 5, 2002, the second city in the nation to accept these cards. Some airlines now recognize them for flights within the United States and other businesses are beginning to use them for establishing store layaway plans. Orange County has announced a plan in which police officers would accept cards issued by the Mexican government as proof of identity during police stops. This plan has been endorsed by police chiefs throughout the county.
It is very difficult, if not impossible, to carry on with the day-to-day activities of life in Los Angeles without identification cards. And, except when required by federal or state law, it makes great sense for Los Angeles to join with other jurisdictions in accepting for identification purposes the ID cards issued by consular offices. These cards will enable many of our residents to participate in such basic services as signing on for power and water service. obtaining senior citizen taxi coupons, obtaining library cards, reporting domestic violence, participating in other City programs and services, and even having access to our City Hall in order to meet with elected officials or to attend Council meetings.
As one of the largest concentrations of Mexican nationals outside of Mexico is within the City of Los Angeles, it is appropriate that the City investigate the feasibility of accepting official identity cards issued by the Mexican Consulate on a six month pilot program basis.
THEREFORE MOVE that all City departments and bureaus in the normal course of their operations and interactions with the public be authorized to accept for identification purposes on a six month pilot basis effective on the date of the adoption of this Motion, identification cards issued by the Consulate of Mexico known as "matricula consular," which cards bear a photograph of the person and the date of birth.
FURTHER MOVE that upon the expiration of the first six month pilot program the City Council consider an extension of the program for an additional suitable period and expansion of the program to identification cards issued by other consulates which have programs similar to that of the Mexican Consulate.
REFER TO COUNCIL FILES 03-0002-S64 AND 03-0002-S126
Date Received / Introduced
03/01/2002
Last Changed Date
03/22/2004
Mover
ERIC GARCETTI
Second
CINDY MISCIKOWSKI
NICK PACHECO
ALEX PADILLA
JAN PERRY
ED REYES
MARK RIDLEY-THOMAS
File History
3-1-02 - This days Council session
3-1-02 - Ref to Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee
3-1-02 - File to Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee Clerk
4-23-02 - For ref - Transmittal from the Chief Legislative Analyst relative to acceptance of Identity Cards issued by the Mexican Consulate.
4-23-02 - Ref to Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee - to Committee Clerk
5-8-02 - This days Council session - Communication recommendations from Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee, subject to the concurrence of the Mayor to:
1. ADOPT the following policy regarding the acceptance of identification cards issued by the Mexican Consulate: (1) the acceptance of identification cards issued by the Mexican Consulate does not create any new rights that are enforceable through a civil action so that a violation of the policy by failure or refusal to accept the identification cards will not subject the City and/or its employees to liability for monetary damages; (2) City departments shall have the right to request additional information needed to enable the departments to fulfill their responsibilities; (3) City departments are not required to accept the identification if there is a reasonable belief that the identification card is counterfeit, altered, does not belong to the holder, or otherwise contains inaccurate information; (4) City departments are not required to accept the identification where federal or state regulations or directives preempt City policy or where they require the City to obtain other types of identification in order to qualify for federal or state programs/funding.
2. INSTRUCT all City departments and bureaus to accept for identification purposes on a six month pilot basis, identification cards issued by the Consulate of Mexico.
3. INSTRUCT the Chief Legislative Analyst, in consultation with the City Attorney, to report back to the Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee at the end of the six month pilot period regarding the continued acceptance of identification cards issued by the Mexican Consulate and recommendations relative to accepting other consular identification cards.
5-8-02 - File to Calendar Clerk for placement on next available Council agenda
5-13-02 - For ref - Transmittal from Chief Legislative Analyst relative to acceptance of Identity Cards issued by the Mexican Consulate.
5-14-02 - Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Communication ADOPTED
5-16-02 - File to Mayor
5-17-02 - Ref to Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Efficiency Committee - to Committee Clerk (Referral of May 13, 2002).
5-21-02 - Mayor's message concurred in action of May 14, 2002
5-21-02 - File to Calendar Clerk
5-24-02 - File to Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Efficiency Committee Clerk OK
5-28-02 - File in files
3-14-03 - For ref - Transmittal from Chief Legislative Analyst relative to acceptance of Identity Cards issued by the Foreign Consulate.
3-18-03 - Ref to Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee
3-18-03 - File to Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee Clerk
4-4-03 - Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee report ADOPTED *AS AMENDED (see attached motion) to:
1. AUTHORIZE all City Departments to continue to accept the Matricula Consular Identification Card for identification purposes only.
2. INSTRUCT all General Managers to direct staff to accept the Matricula Consular as a valid form of identification and to notify all employees of this policy.
3. REQUEST that the City Attorney prepare an ordinance establishing criteria for the acceptance of identification cards issued by other foreign consulates
4-4-03 - *Amending Motion - Garcetti Mover 2003 / Reyes - Pacheco - MOVE that the matter of the the Communication from Chair, Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee relative to City acceptance of identification cards, "Matricula Consular," issued by the Consulate of Mexico, Item 3 on today's Special Agenda (Council File 02-0399) be amended to delete Recommendation 3 of the communication and adopt in lieu thereof the following new Recommendation 3:
3. REQUEST the City Attorney to prepare and present an ordinance establishing criteria for the acceptance of identification cards issued by other foreign consulates after consultation with the Los Angeles Consulates of the affected foreign governments, such consultation to include the possibility of forming a working group to develop standardized and uniform criteria for such foreign identification cards.
4-9-03 - File to Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee Clerk OK
4-10-03 - File in files
2-12-04 - File to Rules and Elections Committee Clerk
3-2-04 - Verbal Motion - Garcetti Mover 2004 / Villaraigosa - ADOPTED - HEREBY MOVE that Council ADOPT the following recommendation of the City Attorney (Item No. 46, Council File 02-0399) relative to acceptance of foreign consulate identification cards, SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MAYOR:
PRESENT and ADOPT the accompanying ORDINANCE relative to adding Chapter 15 of Division 19 of the Los Angeles Administrative Code to provide for the acceptance of foreign consulate identification cards. (Rules and Elections Committee waived consideration of the above matter) - Ordinance ADOPTED
3-3-04 - File to Mayor for signature
3-16-04 - File to Calendar Clerk
3-22-04 - File in files
3-1-02 - Ref to Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee
3-1-02 - File to Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee Clerk
4-23-02 - For ref - Transmittal from the Chief Legislative Analyst relative to acceptance of Identity Cards issued by the Mexican Consulate.
4-23-02 - Ref to Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee - to Committee Clerk
5-8-02 - This days Council session - Communication recommendations from Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee, subject to the concurrence of the Mayor to:
1. ADOPT the following policy regarding the acceptance of identification cards issued by the Mexican Consulate: (1) the acceptance of identification cards issued by the Mexican Consulate does not create any new rights that are enforceable through a civil action so that a violation of the policy by failure or refusal to accept the identification cards will not subject the City and/or its employees to liability for monetary damages; (2) City departments shall have the right to request additional information needed to enable the departments to fulfill their responsibilities; (3) City departments are not required to accept the identification if there is a reasonable belief that the identification card is counterfeit, altered, does not belong to the holder, or otherwise contains inaccurate information; (4) City departments are not required to accept the identification where federal or state regulations or directives preempt City policy or where they require the City to obtain other types of identification in order to qualify for federal or state programs/funding.
2. INSTRUCT all City departments and bureaus to accept for identification purposes on a six month pilot basis, identification cards issued by the Consulate of Mexico.
3. INSTRUCT the Chief Legislative Analyst, in consultation with the City Attorney, to report back to the Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee at the end of the six month pilot period regarding the continued acceptance of identification cards issued by the Mexican Consulate and recommendations relative to accepting other consular identification cards.
5-8-02 - File to Calendar Clerk for placement on next available Council agenda
5-13-02 - For ref - Transmittal from Chief Legislative Analyst relative to acceptance of Identity Cards issued by the Mexican Consulate.
5-14-02 - Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Communication ADOPTED
5-16-02 - File to Mayor
5-17-02 - Ref to Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Efficiency Committee - to Committee Clerk (Referral of May 13, 2002).
5-21-02 - Mayor's message concurred in action of May 14, 2002
5-21-02 - File to Calendar Clerk
5-24-02 - File to Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Efficiency Committee Clerk OK
5-28-02 - File in files
3-14-03 - For ref - Transmittal from Chief Legislative Analyst relative to acceptance of Identity Cards issued by the Foreign Consulate.
3-18-03 - Ref to Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee
3-18-03 - File to Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee Clerk
4-4-03 - Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee report ADOPTED *AS AMENDED (see attached motion) to:
1. AUTHORIZE all City Departments to continue to accept the Matricula Consular Identification Card for identification purposes only.
2. INSTRUCT all General Managers to direct staff to accept the Matricula Consular as a valid form of identification and to notify all employees of this policy.
3. REQUEST that the City Attorney prepare an ordinance establishing criteria for the acceptance of identification cards issued by other foreign consulates
4-4-03 - *Amending Motion - Garcetti Mover 2003 / Reyes - Pacheco - MOVE that the matter of the the Communication from Chair, Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee relative to City acceptance of identification cards, "Matricula Consular," issued by the Consulate of Mexico, Item 3 on today's Special Agenda (Council File 02-0399) be amended to delete Recommendation 3 of the communication and adopt in lieu thereof the following new Recommendation 3:
3. REQUEST the City Attorney to prepare and present an ordinance establishing criteria for the acceptance of identification cards issued by other foreign consulates after consultation with the Los Angeles Consulates of the affected foreign governments, such consultation to include the possibility of forming a working group to develop standardized and uniform criteria for such foreign identification cards.
4-9-03 - File to Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee Clerk OK
4-10-03 - File in files
2-12-04 - File to Rules and Elections Committee Clerk
3-2-04 - Verbal Motion - Garcetti Mover 2004 / Villaraigosa - ADOPTED - HEREBY MOVE that Council ADOPT the following recommendation of the City Attorney (Item No. 46, Council File 02-0399) relative to acceptance of foreign consulate identification cards, SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MAYOR:
PRESENT and ADOPT the accompanying ORDINANCE relative to adding Chapter 15 of Division 19 of the Los Angeles Administrative Code to provide for the acceptance of foreign consulate identification cards. (Rules and Elections Committee waived consideration of the above matter) - Ordinance ADOPTED
3-3-04 - File to Mayor for signature
3-16-04 - File to Calendar Clerk
3-22-04 - File in files
Online Documents (Doc)
| Title | Doc Date |
|---|
| Final Ordinance No. 175853 | 04/24/2004 |
| Complete Council File | 01/01/2002 |
Council Vote Information
| Council Vote Information |
| Meeting Date: | 03/02/2004 |
| Meeting Type: | Regular |
| Vote Action: | Adopted |
| Vote Given: | (15 - 0 - 0) |
| Member Name | CD | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| TONY CARDENAS | 6 | YES |
| ERIC GARCETTI | 13 | YES |
| WENDY GREUEL | 2 | YES |
| JANICE HAHN | 15 | YES |
| TOM LABONGE | 4 | YES |
| MARTIN LUDLOW | 10 | YES |
| CINDY MISCIKOWSKI | 11 | YES |
| ALEX PADILLA | 7 | YES |
| BERNARD C PARKS | 8 | YES |
| JAN PERRY | 9 | YES |
| ED REYES | 1 | YES |
| GREIG SMITH | 12 | YES |
| ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA | 14 | YES |
| JACK WEISS | 5 | YES |
| DENNIS ZINE | 3 | YES |