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Under a bill being considered by Oklahoma's Senate, fingerprints would no longer be captured on persons applying for driver's licenses. The bill is titled "The Religious Freedom and Privacy Protection Act of 2009."

Feb. 11--OKLAHOMA CITY -- Fingerprints may soon no longer be required for those seeking a driver's license.

The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety and Judiciary on Wednesday passed Senate Bill 289 by Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso. It now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The measure, dubbed "The Religious Freedom and Privacy Protection Act of 2009," would prevent the state from collecting, obtaining or retaining "any biometric data" in connection with motor vehicle registration or driver's licenses.

Biometric data includes fingerprints, palmprints, facial feature pattern characteristics and other identifying information.

The bill also bans the sharing of information previously collected or distributed and requires the deletion of such information from current files.

Brogdon said the information was being shared with Canada and Mexico.

"If this bill passes, that nonsense will stop," Brogdon said, adding that the federal government is trampling on states' rights.