Bill Text: GA SB120 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Comm Sub

---

Bill Title: Education; provide parent/guardian participation component in drug/alcohol course; person under 18 years of age

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 4-2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-01-09 - Senate Recommitted [SB120 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2011-SB120-Comm_Sub.html

---

11 LC 35 2210S

The Senate Public Safety Committee offered the following substitute to SB 120:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Code Section 20-2-142 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to prescribed courses and the development and dissemination of instructional materials on the effect of alcohol, so as to provide for a voluntary parent or guardian participation component in the alcohol and drug course required for obtaining a driver's license for a person under 18 years of age; to amend Code Section 40-5-25 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to driver's license application fees, so as to provide for motor vehicle report; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Code Section 20-2-142 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to prescribed courses and the development and dissemination of instructional materials on the effect of alcohol, is amended in subsection (b) as follows:

"(b)(1) The State Board of Education and the Board of Driver Services shall jointly establish an alcohol and drug course for the purpose of informing the young people of this state of the dangers involved in consuming alcohol or certain drugs in connection with the operation of a motor vehicle. The course shall be designed to generate greater interest in highway safety and accident prevention. The state board and the Board of Driver Services shall jointly, by rules or regulations, determine the contents of the course and its duration. The commissioner of driver services shall make available officers, employees, officials, agents, contractors, or other appropriate representatives as determined by the commissioner of driver services to teach the alcohol and drug course. The alcohol and drug course shall be offered periodically but not less than once annually in the public schools of this state to students in grades nine and above in the manner prescribed by the state board.

(2) The alcohol and drug course required by this subsection shall make available as a part of such course a voluntary parent or guardian participation component which substantially complies with the following requirements:

(A) A joint session with the parent or guardian and child which provides opportunities for parents or guardians to voluntarily participate in the guidance and delivery of the anti-drug and anti-alcohol instruction; and

(B) A separate voluntary component solely for parental or guardian instruction, that provides drug prevention strategies, legal accountability information, an opportunity for parent or guardian questions, and any other information that would offer parents or guardians a framework for the protection of their children from alcohol and other drug use.

(2)(3) All schools with grade nine or above which receive funds in any manner from the state shall make available to eligible students and their parents or guardians the alcohol and drug course provided in paragraph (1) of this subsection.

(3)(4) The commissioner of driver services shall make the alcohol and drug course, and instructors where necessary, available to the private schools in this state. In addition, the commissioner of driver services shall offer the alcohol and drug course periodically at various locations in the state in the manner provided by the Board of Driver Services. The commissioner shall also be authorized to offer such course electronically online or in such other manner as determined appropriate by the commissioner."

SECTION 2.

Code Section 40-5-25 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to driver's license application fees, is amended by adding a new subsection as follows:

"(f) The General Assembly finds that it is in the best interest of the state to encourage alcohol and drug education to inform young people of the dangers involved in consuming alcohol or certain drugs while operating a motor vehicle. The General Assembly further finds that parental or guardian involvement in an alcohol and drug awareness program will assist in reducing the number of young persons involved in driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. To promote these purposes, where a parent or guardian successfully participates in the parent-guardian component of the alcohol and drug course required by subsection (a) of Code Section 40-5-22 as prescribed in subsection (b) of Code Section 20-2-142, each parent or guardian shall be entitled to a one-time three-year online motor vehicle report."

SECTION 3.

This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law without such approval.

SECTION 4.

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