GA HB1137

Judges and prosecutors are prohibited from requiring participation in uncertified or unlicensed driver improvement programs as a condition of probation or case dismissal for traffic-related offenses; only programs certified, licensed, and approved by the Department of Driver Services may be used.

Fees for DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Programs are increased from $82.00 to $85.00 for the assessment component and from $190.00 to $225.00 for the intervention component, while defensive driving course fees rise from $75.00 to $95.00.

DUI offenders at all conviction levels are required to complete a DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program before or within 120 days of conviction or release from incarceration, and clinical evaluations may only be conducted by evaluators licensed by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities following completion of the risk assessment and intervention components.

Public schools offering fee-based driver training courses outside regular school hours must solicit proposals from private providers, prepare a three-year cost-benefit analysis, publish it in a local newspaper, and may not cross-subsidize program costs with non-tuition revenue sources.

The behind-the-wheel training requirement for driver training school instructors seeking a special license to teach defensive driving courses is doubled from 250 hours to 500 hours, and the effective date is July 1, 2012.