This bill revises the impaired driver care management program (IDCMP) and the certification standards for recovery houses, as requested by the Department of Health and Human Services. Key amendments include the deletion of the provision that allowed individuals who completed an impaired driver education program within the past five years to bypass the requirement for program completion before restoring their driver's license. The bill now mandates that individuals under 21 convicted of specific offenses must complete a substance use disorder evaluation and adhere to a service plan developed by the IDCMP, with established timelines for these evaluations. Additionally, it introduces new language requiring a minimum of 20 hours of evidence-based curriculum for impaired driver education programs and allows out-of-state residents to meet their education requirements according to their home state's standards.

The bill also modifies existing laws regarding the IDCMP and license restoration after a DWI conviction. It specifies that individuals who completed the multiple offender program before January 1, 2013, are exempt from certain state fees. Clients convicted of impaired driving after completing the IDCMP must comply with the new requirements, regardless of the time since their program completion. The bill grants clients the right to request a hearing to evaluate their service plan requirements and allows out-of-state residents to fulfill their screening, evaluation, treatment, and education requirements in their home state, provided they register with a New Hampshire IDCMP. Furthermore, it requires proof of completion of an approved impaired driver education program within the past five years for license restoration and includes provisions for the certification of recovery residences based on nationally recognized standards. The act is set to take effect on July 15, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 265-A:18, 265-A:19, 265-A:39, 265-A:40, 265-A:42
As Amended by the Senate: 265-A:18, 265-A:19, 265-A:39, 265-A:40, 265-A:42, 172-B:2
Version adopted by both bodies: 265-A:18, 265-A:19, 265-A:39, 265-A:40, 265-A:42, 172-B:2
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION: 265-A:18, 265-A:19, 265-A:39, 265-A:40, 265-A:42, 172-B:2