HB 752: Georgia SAFE (Support and Awareness for Fair Encounters) Act; enact

Georgia currently has no statewide system to alert first responders when someone they encounter has a physical, mental, or neurological condition that makes communication hard, such as autism, a speech impairment, or a traumatic brain injury. House Bill 752, called the Georgia SAFE (Support and Awareness for Fair Encounters) Act, directs the Department of Driver Services to create the Peach Envelope Program: a special envelope holding a driver's license, registration, insurance proof, and an emergency contact card, with communication guidelines printed on the outside. Drivers could request a special symbol on their driver's license noting such a condition, similar to the existing option for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. Starting in 2026, firefighter, paramedic and cardiac technician, and peace officer training programs would all have to include instruction on the program and best practices for these encounters. The rule-making parts of the law take effect July 1, 2025, and the rest takes effect January 1, 2026.

• Creates the Peach Envelope Program (O.C.G.A. § 40-5-7), directing the Department of Driver Services to design a special envelope holding key documents and communication guidelines for drivers with communication-impeding conditions.
• Lets any driver with a physical, mental, or neurological condition that impedes communication request a symbol on their license noting that condition, after submitting a sworn medical statement (O.C.G.A. § 40-5-38).
• Requires firefighter basic training and recertification courses starting in 2026 to include training on the Peach Envelope Program and best practices for these encounters (new O.C.G.A. § 25-4-10.1).
• Requires paramedic and cardiac technician training courses to include the same training starting in 2026 (amending O.C.G.A. § 31-11-52).
• Requires peace officer basic training courses to include the same training starting in 2026 (new O.C.G.A. § 35-8-28).
• Directs the Department of Driver Services to consult with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities to develop best practices for these encounters.

Georgia drivers with physical, mental, or neurological conditions that impede communication, and their families; firefighters, paramedics, cardiac technicians, and peace officers who must complete the new training; and the Department of Driver Services and Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, which must build and run the program.

Drivers with communication difficulties could carry a marked envelope and license symbol to help police and other responders recognize their condition during traffic stops or emergencies, potentially reducing dangerous misunderstandings. First responders statewide would receive new mandatory training starting in 2026 on how to handle these encounters.

• Section 1 names the law the Georgia SAFE (Support and Awareness for Fair Encounters) Act.
• Section 2 adds O.C.G.A. § 25-4-10.1 requiring firefighter training on the Peach Envelope Program starting in 2026.
• Section 3 amends O.C.G.A. § 31-11-52 to add the same training requirement for paramedic and cardiac technician courses.
• Section 4 adds O.C.G.A. § 35-8-28 requiring peace officer basic training to cover the program starting in 2026.
• Section 5 rewrites O.C.G.A. § 40-5-7 (previously reserved) to establish the Peach Envelope Program, its envelope contents, and inter-agency coordination on best practices.
• Section 6 amends O.C.G.A. § 40-5-38 to let drivers with qualifying conditions request a license symbol, modeled on the existing PTSD notation option for veterans.
• Section 7 sets a two-stage effective date: July 1, 2025 for rule-making, and January 1, 2026 for everything else.

1. 2025-03-13House Second Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
2. 2025-03-11House First Readers (Cámara de Representantes)
3. 2025-03-10House Hopper (Cámara de Representantes)

• Mekyah McQueen (D, HD-061)Patrocinador principal
• Carolyn Hugley (D, HD-141)
• Arlene Beckles (D, HD-096)
• Robert Flournoy (D, HD-074)
• Dewey McClain (D, HD-109)
• Dale Washburn (R, HD-144)

• driver's licenses
• disability accommodations
• police training
• first responder training
• traffic stops