The purpose of this article, the "Georgia Driver Improvement Act," is to improve and promote greater safety upon the highways and streets of this state; to improve the attitude and driving habits of drivers who accumulate traffic accident and motor vehicle conviction records; and to provide uniform DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Programs for the rehabilitation of persons identified as reckless or negligent drivers and frequent violators. In carrying out this purpose, the Department of Motor Vehicle Safety and the Department of Human Resources, as applicable, shall:

(1) Charge a fee for the consideration of applications for approval of driver improvement clinics and instructors. The amount of this fee shall be established by the commissioner of motor vehicle safety and shall, as best as the commissioner shall determine, approximate the expense incurred by the Department of Motor Vehicle Safety in consideration of an application. These licenses shall be valid for a period of two years unless suspended or revoked prior to the expiration of that time period; and

(2) Require, in addition to the criteria for approval of driver improvement clinics established by the commissioner of motor vehicle safety and DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Programs established by the Department of Human Resources, as provided in subsections (a) and (e) of Code Section 40-5-83, respectively, that every driver improvement clinic and DUI Alcohol or Drug Use Risk Reduction Program shall, as a condition of approval, provide a continuous surety company bond for the protection of the contractual rights of students in such form as will meet with the approval of the Department of Motor Vehicle Safety or the Department of Human Resources, as applicable, and written by a company authorized to do business in this state. The principal sum of the bond shall be established by the commissioner of motor vehicle safety or the Board of Human Resources, as applicable; however, in no event shall this amount be less than $2,500.00. If at any time said bond is not valid and in force, the license of the clinic or program shall be deemed suspended by operation of law until a valid surety company bond is again in force.