(a) There is created the Blue Ribbon Young Driver and DUI Study Commission to be composed of 21 members to be appointed as follows: seven members shall be appointed by the Governor, seven members shall be appointed by the President of the Senate, and seven members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. In making such appointments, due consideration shall be given to appointing persons from geographic areas throughout the state and to including persons who work in law enforcement, parents of young drivers, and relatively young or less experienced drivers. The Governor shall designate a person to serve as chairperson of the commission. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the commission.

(b) The commission shall undertake a study of the special conditions, needs, issues, and problems related to:

(1) Young drivers in this state, including without limitation issues concerning driver education and appropriate driving age for rural and urban areas; and

(2) Drivers who operate motor vehicles while under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substances.

(c) The commission may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this Code section, provided that the commission shall give due regard to conducting hearings at locations throughout the state.

(d) Any legislative members of the commission shall receive the allowances authorized for legislative members of interim legislative committees but shall receive the same for not more than ten days unless additional days are authorized by concurrence of the Governor, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House of Representatives. Any members of the commission who are public officers of the executive branch shall receive no compensation for their services on the commission, but they shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties as members of the commission. Any members of the commission who are not legislative members or public officers of the executive branch shall receive no compensation for their services on the commission, but they shall receive a daily expense allowance in the amount specified in subsection (b) of Code Section 45-7-21. The funds necessary for the reimbursement of the expenses of the public officers of the executive branch shall come from funds appropriated or otherwise available to their departments. All other funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this Code section shall come from the funds appropriated to or otherwise available to the House of Representatives and Senate.

(e) The commission shall recommend any actions or legislation which the commission deems necessary or appropriate. The commission shall make an interim report of its findings and recommendations with suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, to the Governor and the General Assembly not later than December 15, 2001. The commission shall make a final report of its findings and recommendations with suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, to the Governor and the General Assembly not later than June 30, 2002.

(f) The commission shall stand abolished and this Code section shall be automatically repealed on December 31, 2002.