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

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 Chapter 8 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to firefighter standards and training, certification and recertification of, and training for, paramedics and cardiac technicians, and employment and training of peace officers, respectively, so as to provide for training on encounters with individuals with physical, mental, or neurological conditions that impede the ability to communicate; to amend Chapter 5 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to drivers' licenses, so as to provide for the development of a Peach Envelope Program by the Department of Driver Services to promote effective communication during encounters with individuals with physical, mental, or neurological conditions that impede the ability to communicate; to provide for standards for such program; to provide for notation of such condition upon a driver's license; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Georgia SAFE (Support and Awareness for Fair Encounters) Act."

SECTION 2.

Chapter 4 of Title 25 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to firefighter standards and training, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:

"25-4-10.1.

Each calendar year beginning in 2026, the basic training courses and the continued certification courses required pursuant to this chapter shall include training on the Peach Envelope Program established pursuant to Code Section 40-5-7 and best practices for encounters with an individual with a physical, mental, or neurological condition that impedes the ability to communicate."

SECTION 3.

Code Section 31-11-52 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to certification and recertification of, and training for, paramedics and cardiac technicians, is amended by revising subsection (b) as follows:

"(b) The department shall also adopt procedures and standards for its approval of paramedic training courses and cardiac technician training courses which, beginning in the calendar year 2026, shall include training on the Peach Envelope Program established pursuant to Code Section 40-5-7 and best practices for encounters with an individual with a physical, mental, or neurological condition that impedes the ability to communicate. The department shall adopt such regulations after consultation with appropriate public and private agencies and organizations concerned with medical education and the practice of medicine. Procedures and standards adopted by the department shall be consistent with the purposes and provisions of this chapter."

SECTION 4.

Chapter 8 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to employment and training of peace officers, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:

"35-8-28.

Each calendar year beginning in 2026, the basic training courses required pursuant to this chapter shall include training on the Peach Envelope Program established pursuant to Code Section 40-5-7 and best practices for encounters with an individual with a physical, mental, or neurological condition that impedes the ability to communicate."

SECTION 5.

Chapter 5 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to drivers' licenses, is amended by revising Code Section 40-5-7, which is designated as reserved, as follows:

"40-5-7.

The department shall, through the adoption of rules and regulations, establish a program, to be known as the Peach Envelope Program, that promotes effective communication between an individual with a physical, mental, or neurological condition that impedes the individual's ability to communicate. In consultation with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, the department shall develop best practices for assisting peace officers and others when encountering an individual with a physical, mental, or neurological condition that impedes the ability to communicate. The department shall design a special envelope to hold the essential documents for a driver, including a driver's license, proof of motor vehicle registration, proof of required motor vehicle insurance, and an emergency contact card listing one or more individuals designated to assist the driver with communications. The outside of such envelope shall include communication guidelines developed pursuant to this Code section. The department shall provide any individual who requests a special symbol on his or her driver's license pursuant to subsection (b) of Code Section 40-5-38 with an envelope established pursuant to this Code section Reserved."

SECTION 6.

Said chapter is further amended in Code Section 40-5-38, relating to notation of post-traumatic stress disorder, as follows:

"40-5-38.

(a) Members of the armed services and veterans who have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder may request to have a notation of such diagnosis placed on his or her driver's license. Such applicant shall present the department with a sworn statement from a person licensed to practice medicine or psychology in this state verifying such diagnosis.

(b) Any applicant with a physical, mental, or neurological condition that impedes the applicant's ability to communicate may request to have a symbol placed upon the front of his or her driver's license which indicates such condition. Such applicant shall present the department with a sworn statement which includes a description of the condition or diagnosis that impedes the ability to communicate, including whether such impediment is temporary, intermittent, or triggered by certain events.

(c) The commissioner shall by rules and regulations establish procedures necessary to carry out the provisions of this Code section including, without limitation, application forms to include a waiver of liability for the release of any medical information and an appropriate symbol to be placed on the drivers' licenses."

SECTION 7.

This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2025, for purposes of adopting rules and regulations necessary to carry out this Act and on January 1, 2026, for all other purposes.

SECTION 8.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.