HB752: HB752 Georgia SAFE (Support and Awareness for Fair Encounters) Act; enact

25 LC 39 4636 House Bill 752 By: Representatives McQueen of the 61st, Hugley of the 141st, Beckles of the 96th, Flournoy of the 74th, McClain of the 109th, and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Chapter 4 of Title 25, Code Section 31-11-52, and Chap ter 8 of Title 35 of the1 Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to firefighter sta ndards and training,2 certification and recertification of, and training for, paramedics and cardiac technicians, and3 employment and training of peace officers, respectively, so as to provide for training on4 encounters with individuals with physical, mental, or neurological conditions that impede the5 ability to communicate; to amend Chapter 5 of Title 40 of the O fficial Code of Georgia6 Annotated, relating to drivers' licenses, so as to provide for the development of a Peach7 Envelope Program by the Department of Driver Services to promot e effective8 communication during encounters with individuals with physical, mental, or neurological9 conditions that impede the ability to communicate; to provide f or standards for such10 program; to provide for notation of such condition upon a driver's license; to provide for a11 short title; to provide for related matters; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting12 laws; and for other purposes.13 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:14 H. B. 752 - 1 - 25 LC 39 4636 SECTION 1.15 This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Georgia SAFE (Support and Awareness16 for Fair Encounters) Act."17 SECTION 2.18 Chapter 4 of Title 25 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated , relating to firefighter19 standards and training, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:20 "25-4-10.1.21 Each calendar year b eginning in 2026, the ba sic training course s and the continued22 certification courses required pursuant to this chapter shall include training on the Peach23 Envelope Program established pursuant to Code Section 40-5-7 an d best practices for24 encounters with an individual with a physical, mental, or neuro logical condition that25 impedes the ability to communicate."26 SECTION 3.27 Code Section 31-11-52 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to certification28 and recertification of, and training for, paramedics and cardiac technicians, is amended by29 revising subsection (b) as follows:30 "(b) The department shall also adopt procedures and standards f or its approval of31 paramedic training courses and cardiac technician training courses which, beginning in the32 calendar year 2026, shall include training on the Peach Envelop e Program established33 pursuant to Code Section 40-5-7 and best practices for encounters with an individual with34 a physical, mental, or neurological condition that impedes the ability to communicate. The35 department shall adopt such regulations after consultation with appropriate public and36 private agencies and organizations concerned with medical education and the practice of37 medicine. Procedures and standards adopted by the department shall be consistent with the38 purposes and provisions of this chapter."39 H. B. 752 - 2 - 25 LC 39 4636 SECTION 4.40 Chapter 8 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to employment and41 training of peace officers, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:42 "35-8-28.43 Each calendar year beginning in 2026, the basic training courses required pursuant to this44 chapter shall include training on the Peach Envelope Program established pursuant to Code45 Section 40-5-7 and best practices for encounters with an individual with a physical, mental,46 or neurological condition that impedes the ability to communicate."47 SECTION 5.48 Chapter 5 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to drivers' licenses,49 is amended by revising Code Section 40-5-7, which is designated as reserved, as follows:50 "40-5-7.51 The department shall, through the adoption of rules and regulations, establish a program,52 to be known as the Peach Envelope Program, that promotes effect ive communication53 between an individual with a physical, mental, or neurological condition that impedes the54 individual's ability to communicate. In consultation with the Department of Behavioral55 Health and Developmental Disabilities, the department shall dev elop best practices for56 assisting peace officers and others when encountering an indivi dual with a physical,57 mental, or neurological condition that impedes the ability to communicate. The department58 shall design a special envelope to hold the essential documents for a driver, including a59 driver's license, proof of motor vehicle registration, proof of required motor vehicle60 insurance, and an emergency contact card listing one or more in dividuals designated to61 assist the driver with communications. The outside of such env elope shall include62 communication guidelines developed pursuant to this Code section. The department shall63 provide any individual who requests a special symbol on his or her driver's license pursuant64 H. B. 752 - 3 - 25 LC 39 4636 to subsection (b) of Code Section 40-5-38 with an envelope esta blished pursuant to this65 Code section Reserved."66 SECTION 6.67 Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 40-5-38, relati ng to notation of68 post-traumatic stress disorder, as follows:69 "40-5-38.70 (a) Members of the armed services and veterans who have been d iagnosed with71 post-traumatic stress disorder may request to have a notation of such diagnosis placed on72 his or her driver's license. Such applicant shall present the department with a sworn73 statement from a person licensed to practice medicine or psychology in this state verifying74 such diagnosis.75 (b) Any applicant with a physical, mental, or neurological con dition that impedes the76 applicant's ability to communicate may request to have a symbol placed upon the front of77 his or her driver's license which indicates such condition. Such applicant shall present the78 department with a sworn statement which includes a description of the condition or79 diagnosis that impedes the ability to communicate, including whether such impediment is80 temporary, intermittent, or triggered by certain events.81 (c) The commissioner shall by rules and regulations establish pro cedures necessary to82 carry out the provisions of this Code section including, withou t limitation, application83 forms to include a waiver of liability for the release of any m edical information and an84 appropriate symbol to be placed on the drivers' licenses."85 SECTION 7.86 This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2025, for purposes o f adopting rules and87 regulations necessary to carry out this Act and on January 1, 2026, for all other purposes.88 H. B. 752 - 4 - 25 LC 39 4636 SECTION 8.89 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.90 H. B. 752 - 5 -