Arizona 2024 2024 Regular Session

Arizona House Bill HB2522 Comm Sub / Analysis

Filed 01/29/2024

                      	HB 2522 
Initials JB 	Page 1 Transportation & Infrastructure 
 
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Fifty-sixth Legislature 
Second Regular Session 
 
 
HB 2522: defensive driving schools; fees 
Sponsor: Representative Peña, LD 23 
Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure 
Overview 
Requires the court of record, rather than the defensive driving school, to collect the Defensive 
Driving School Fund fee, court diversion fee and surcharge. 
History 
The presiding judges of each court must: 
1) set the amount of the court diversion fee that an individual, including a commercial 
driver's license holder, who attends a defensive driving school may be assessed; and 
2) charge an individual a $45 surcharge if they attend a defensive driving school.  
Payment of a court diversion fee and surcharge is in lieu of a civil penalty or criminal fine 
and any surcharge imposed for a traffic violation.  
The driving school is required to collect the court diversion fee and surcharge before or at the 
time an individual attends the school. After receiving the diversion fee, the defensive driving 
school must transmit the fee to the appropriate court. After receiving the surcharge, the 
school must transmit the surcharge to the State Treasurer. The first $10,400,000 of annual 
surcharge revenue is required to go to the Department of Public Safety Forensics Fund. The 
remaining monies go to the state General Fund (A.R.S. § 28-3396).  
In addition to the court diversion fee and the fee for the cost of attending a defensive driving 
school, a person attending a defensive driving school as prescribed by statute or by a court 
order must pay a Defensive Driving School Fund (Fund) fee of not more than $15 that is 
established by the Supreme Court.  
The defensive driving school must collect the Fund fee and the fee, if any, charged by the 
school for the course. The defensive driving school must transmit the Fund fee to the Supreme 
Court which will deposit the fee into the Fund (A.R.S. § 28-3397).   
Provisions 
1. Makes it so the court of record, rather than the defensive driving school, collects the court 
diversion fee, surcharge and Fund fee. (Sec. 1-2)  
2. Requires the court of record, instead of the defensive driving school, to transmit the 
surcharge to the State Treasurer. (Sec. 1)  
3. Requires the court of record, rather than the defensive driving school, to transmit the 
Fund fee to the Supreme Court. (Sec. 2)  
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes)     ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes)      ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note    	HB 2522 
Initials JB 	Page 2 Transportation & Infrastructure 
4. Removes language that required the defensive driving school to transmit the diversion 
fee to the appropriate court. (Sec. 1)  
5. Makes technical changes. (Sec. 1-2)