SB433: SB433 "Rio's Law"

26 SB 433/AP Senate Bill 433 By: Senators Strickland of the 42nd, Albers of the 56th, Bearden of the 30th, Echols of the 49th, Anderson of the 43rd and others AS PASSED A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 3 of Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Cod e of Georgia Annotated,1 relating to prestige license plates and special plates for certain persons and vehicles, so as to2 provide for special license plates for persons with autism spec trum disorder or a3 developmental disability and for such person's spouse, parent, or legal guardian; to provide4 for a process for obtaining such plates; to provide for the design of such plates; to provide5 for the transfer of such plates; to provide for penalties for willful and false representations6 and statements; to provide a definition; to amend Chapter 8 of Title 35 of the Official Code7 of Georgia Annotated, relating to employment and training of peace officers, so as to provide8 for training regarding encounters with persons with autism spec trum disorder or a9 developmental disability; to provide for collaboration with the Department of Community10 Health, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, and nonprofit11 organizations regarding such training; to provide for a short t itle; to provide for related12 matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.13 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:14 SECTION 1.15 This Act shall be known and may be cited as "Rio's Law."16 S. B. 433 - 1 - 26 SB 433/AP SECTION 2.17 Article 3 of Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Geor gia Annotated, relating to18 prestige license plates and special plates for certain persons and vehicles, is amended by19 revising Code Section 40-2-75, which is reserved, as follows:20 "40-2-75.21 (a) On or after January 1, 2027, any owner of a private passenger motor vehicle who is a22 resident of Georgia, upon complying with the motor vehicle laws relating to registration,23 licensing, and payment of fees and upon submitting an affidavit of a practitioner of the24 healing arts stating that the owner or his or her spouse, child , or ward is a person with25 autism spectrum disorder or a developmental disability shall be issued a specially26 designated 'Autism Spectrum Disorder or Developmental Disability' license plate from the27 commissioner. As used in this Code section, the term 'practiti oner of the healing arts'28 means a person holding a license to practice medicine issued pu rsuant to Article 2 of29 Chapter 34 of Title 43 or a person holding a license to practic e psychology pursuant to30 Article 1 of Chapter 39 of Title 43.31 (b)(1) Upon complying with the motor vehicle laws relating to registration, licensing,32 and payment of fees and upon submission of proof of autism spec trum disorder or a33 developmental disability as provided in subsection (a) of this Code section, as applicable:34 (A) Any resident person who is the joint owner of a motor vehicle with a person with35 autism spectrum disorder or a developmental disability as presc ribed in this Code36 section shall be authorized to obtain such specialized license plate for such jointly37 owned vehicle; and38 (B) Any resident motor vehicle owner who is the spouse, parent, or legal guardian of39 a person with autism spectrum disorder or a developmental disability as prescribed in40 this Code section shall be authorized to obtain such specialized license plate for such41 vehicle.42 S. B. 433 - 2 - 26 SB 433/AP (2) Upon the death of the person with autism spectrum disorder or a developmental43 disability or if the joint ownership of such vehicle ceases for any reason, the specialized44 license plate shall be canceled and the owner of such motor veh icle shall be issued a45 regular license plate for such vehicle.46 (c) The commissioner is directed to furnish specialized license plates as provided for in47 this Code section, which shall bear the official 'Just Bee' symbol or a reasonable facsimile48 thereof, or such other symbols as the commissioner may deem appropriate.49 (d) Any specialized license plate issued pursuant to the provi sions of this Code section50 shall be transferred to another vehicle as provided in Code Section 40-2-80.51 (e) Any person who willfully and falsely represents himself or herself as having the52 qualifications to obtain the specialized license plate prescribed by this Code section shall53 be guilty of a misdemeanor.54 (f) Any practitioner of the healing arts who knowingly and wil lfully makes a false or55 misleading statement in his or her affidavit stating that an applicant has autism spectrum56 disorder or a developmental disability as prescribed in this Code section shall be guilty of57 a misdemeanor.58 (g) Any person owning a vehicle bearing a specialized license plate prescribed by this59 Code section who is not authorized to have such plate under thi s Code section shall be60 guilty of a misdemeanor. Reserved."61 SECTION 3.62 Chapter 8 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to employment and63 training of peace officers, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:64 "35-8-28.65 (a) Beginning January 1, 2027, the basic training courses required pursuant to this chapter66 shall include training in interactions with persons with autism spectrum disorder or a67 developmental disability.68 S. B. 433 - 3 - 26 SB 433/AP (b) Such training course shall include, but shall not be limited to:69 (1) Best practices for encounters with a person who has a specialized license plate under70 Code Section 40-2-75;71 (2) Best practices for conducting investigations that involve a person with autism72 spectrum disorder or a developmental disability;73 (3) Instruction on how to interact with persons with autism spe ctrum disorder or a74 developmental disability;75 (4) Techniques for recognizing the behavioral symptoms and characteristics of autism76 spectrum disorder or a developmental disability;77 (5) Techniques for effective communication with persons with autism spectrum disorder78 or a developmental disability;79 (6) Techniques for employing alternatives to physical restrain ts when encountering80 persons with autism spectrum disorder or a developmental disability; and81 (7) Protocols for contacting the caregiver of a person with autism spectrum disorder or82 a developmental disability during an emergency situation.83 (c) The council shall develop and implement or approve a train ing program under this84 Code section in collaboration with the Department of Community Health, the Department85 of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, and nonpro fit organizations with86 proven expertise in autism spectrum disorders and developmental disabilities."87 SECTION 4.88 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.89 S. 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