Page 9 - DDS April Newsletter

Governmental Affairs and Communications Director Mike
Mitchell and Rep. Kevin Tanner strategizing at the State
Capitol.

Under the Gold Dome

The 2017 legislative session concluded in the wee hours of Friday, March 31st. DDS fared exceptionally well this year
thanks to the fine work and combined efforts of many DDS team members, legislators, and various leadership staff within
the Governor’s office, the Lt. Governor’s office, and the Speaker’s office.

This year, DDS had two agency bills (HB 135 and HB 136), both of which were sponsored by Rep. Amy Carter. Rep. Carter
chairs our appropriations sub-committee, so she’s not only very familiar with DDS business processes, but also our short
and long-term objectives.

HB 135 would give DDS investigators who have prior, full-time law enforcement experience on a county or local level the
option to buy back years of service and apply them toward their state retirement. Because it is a retirement bill, however,
House rules (not the committee) prohibit HB 135 from being considered until next year after an actuarial study can be
completed to assess its fiscal impact. Sworn officers with the Department of Public Safety, Department of Natural
Resources, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and Department of Revenue already have this ability as a result of a 2016 law
change (HB 690).

HB 136 passed with minimal fanfare, but that’s not to say there weren’t a few interesting moments in the Senate. Sen.
Tyler Harper, who carried the bill for us after it crossed over from the House, did a phenomenal job warding off a couple
of unwanted floor amendments.

HB 136 contains several positive changes for DDS. Most notably, it will give DDS the legal authority starting July 1, 2018
to let customers keep their old driver’s license or identification card when they obtain a new one (but only after the old
card has been physically marked in some way that makes it apparent it is no longer valid). Instead of an interim license, a
receipt will be issued to customers for driving purposes or proof of issuance until their permanent card arrives in the mail-
-much like the receipt customers can print now when they renew using DDS Online Services.

Allowing customers to keep their old card, albeit marked, should address the issue of interim cards not being accepted as
proof of identity at airport security checkpoints.

HB 136 also authorizes DDS to contract with third-party debt collectors to assist in the collection of unpaid fees where
suspension of a license is not an option (i.e. nonresidents who have outstanding Super Speeder fees).