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AGENCY STRUCTURE
OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL
The Office of the General withdrawals serving as counsel
Counsel is made up of the for the DDS before the Office of
General Counsel, three additional State Administrative Hearings
attorneys (one who also acts (OSAH) in contested cases under
as the Title VI Coordinator), the Administrative Procedures Act
a Secure ID specialist and (APA), O.C.G.A. §50-13-1, et seq.,
three administrative assistants, and as hearing officers for cases
including one part-time that do not fall under the APA. In
administrative assistant. The FY 2021, a total of 137 hearings
Legal Team also includes two were scheduled before OSAH
Georgia Electronic Conviction and 507 cases were processed
Processing System (GECPS) administratively within the agency.
program Coordinators and one Driver Services and evaluates The Legal Team also provides
Court Auditor. The team’s duties the potential impact of pending extensive training to court clerks,
include serving as statewide legislation while the General prosecutors, law enforcement,
subject-matter experts on all Assembly is in session. Further, defense attorneys, judges, and
legal issues relating to the DDS’ the Secure ID Specialist works state personnel on conviction
statutory responsibilities. This with customers needing reporting, consequences of
team advises DDS team members special assistance with the moving violations, limited
on issues relating to contracts, requirements of the Real ID Act, driving permit eligibility, license
employment law, administrative including waivers from the DDS reinstatement requirements, and
law, and applicable motor vehicle administrative rules. In FY 2021, ADA and Title VI matters.
and traffic laws. Additionally, they 60 agency rules were finalized
respond to complex questions through the Administrative Despite the Public Health
on license issuance and eligibility Procedures Act process. Emergency, the Legal Team
from internal and external Furthermore, the Secure ID continued to perform necessary
customers. In FY 2021, 2,259 specialist aided a total of 458 duties, including training and
license issuance inquiries were individuals in the Secure ID outreach to external partners.
resolved by the Legal Team. process. Of the 458 cases, 437 Although many trainings remained
The Legal Team also manages cases (95%) were resolved virtual, some were conducted
and responds to document through the Secure ID Specialist in-person. In FY 2021, 82 trainings
requests received in the context assisting the customer with were conducted throughout the
of litigation, non-party production obtaining a required document State of Georgia with 860 judges,
requests, subpoenas, and the and avoiding the need to 114 attorneys, and 927 clerks
Open Records Act. In FY 2021, request a rule waiver from the attending. The Legal Team has
1,491 Open Records requests board. The remaining 21 cases scheduled weekly webinars to
were received and processed. were presented to the Board of continue training and education
for court staff. The Legal Team
The Legal Team drafts Directors as Citizen Waiver Cases. also participated in webinars
proposed amendments to the The Legal Team handles initial hosted by other entities.
DDS administrative rules for appeals of non-Administrative
consideration by the Board of License Suspension (ALS) license
FY 2021 ANNUAL REPORT 25
