In honor of fallen Wayne State University police officer Collin Rose, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson joined with more than a dozen local police departments in Southeast Michigan on Feb. 2 to promote organ and tissue donation. Among departments participating were the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, Southfield Police, Madison Heights Police, and Lathrup Village Police.
 “Sgt. Rose was a man who gave easily of himself to others, so it is no surprise that his final wish was to give of himself through the gift of life,” Johnson said. “I am so proud of our new partnership with his brothers and sisters in law enforcement to remember his legacy and help others through organ and tissue donation.”
Sgt. Rose was killed in the line of duty in November 2016 and his family supported his decision as a registered organ and tissue donor to give the gift of life to others. Because of his generosity, many lives were improved.
“With the support of our branch office staff, we have made great strides since I was elected to increase the number of registered donors,” Johnson said. “Michigan has actually gone from one of the worst states in the nation to one of the best states for organ donor registration.”
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In 2011, when Johnson became Secretary of State, only 27 percent of Michigan residents were registered as organ donors. Today, under her leadership, that number has climbed to over 62 percent.
“Those numbers represent hope to real people,” Johnson said. “There are over 3,300 people in Michigan right now whose families are waiting for that life-saving phone call.”
Those interested in learning more or registering as an organ and tissue donor can visit www.michigan.gov/sos and click on “Organ Donation."
Secretary of State Ruth Johnson announced on Jan. 24 that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has officially confirmed that Michigan fully complies with the federal REAL ID Act.
The state’s full compliance status means all Michigan driver’s licenses and ID cards will be accepted until Oct. 1, 2020, to board domestic flights, or enter federal buildings, nuclear plants or military bases.
On Oct. 1, 2020, Michigan residents will need REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses or ID cards or another accepted identification document to board flights or enter federal sites.
“To help people avoid the headache and cost of getting another approved ID document just to fly for business or to visit loved ones, we now offer Michigan residents a REAL ID-compliant license and ID card,” Johnson said. “We still have a standard license for all other identification purposes for residents who don’t want one when they renew.”
Compliant cards are marked with a star inside a gold circle on the upper right. There is no extra fee for a REAL ID-compliant card unless people apply for one outside of their normal renewal cycle. The cards do not contain Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) technology.
To obtain a compliant card, residents will need to bring a certified birth certificate or another legal-presence document to any Secretary of State office. People whose names have changed since birth also must bring in name-change documents, such as a marriage license or court order along with their birth certificate. Residents who have a valid passport with their current name may bring that in instead of a birth certificate and name-change document.
People who do not apply for a REAL ID-compliant license or ID card when they renew will receive a standard one with “NOT FOR FEDERAL IDENTIFICATION” printed on it. Having a noncompliant card does not affect a Michigan resident’s ability to vote, drive, purchase firearms, buy age-restricted items or apply for federal benefits.
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