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. A significant change is the removal of the provision that allowed individuals who completed an impaired driver education program within the past five years to bypass retaking the program for license restoration. Now, all individuals convicted of specific offenses must complete an approved impaired driver education program, regardless of prior completion. Additionally, those whose eligibility for license restoration has lapsed for more than five years must undergo a new screening and evaluation with an IDCMP and retake the education program. The bill also establishes a minimum of 20 hours of evidence-based educational curriculum for the impaired driver education program and clarifies client responsibilities, including fee payments and providing a certified copy of their driver's license record.

Moreover, the bill introduces amendments that exempt individuals who completed the multiple offender program before January 1, 2013, from certain state fees. It mandates that clients convicted of impaired driving after completing the IDCMP must comply with the new requirements, regardless of the time elapsed since their program completion. Clients are granted the right to request a hearing to evaluate their service plan requirements. The bill allows out-of-state residents to meet their screening, evaluation, treatment, and education requirements in their home state, provided they register with a New Hampshire IDCMP, which must verify the completion of necessary requirements for license restoration. Lastly, the bill updates the criteria for license restoration to require proof of completion of an approved impaired driver education program within the past five years and aligns recovery residence certification standards with nationally recognized benchmarks. 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