The bill HB2522 amends existing laws regarding the collection of fees associated with defensive driving schools in Arizona. Under the current law, defensive driving schools are responsible for collecting the court diversion fee, a $45 surcharge, and a Fund fee of up to $15, which they must transmit to the appropriate court and the Arizona Supreme Court. The new bill shifts this responsibility from the defensive driving schools to the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) or its contracted vendors, who will now collect and transmit these fees directly. Additionally, the bill prohibits contracted vendors from having financial relationships with defensive driving schools or favoring specific schools.

The bill also introduces new requirements for the contracted vendors, including confirming an individual's eligibility to attend defensive driving school and complying with procurement rules set by the Arizona Supreme Court. The effective date for these changes is set for March 31, 2025. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the fee collection process and enhance oversight by transferring responsibilities to the AOC and its vendors.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 28-3396, 28-3397, 35-146, 35-147, 41-1730
House Engrossed Version: 28-3396, 28-3397, 35-146, 35-147, 41-1730