I was taken into the police station and issued a ticket to appear in 2 weeks (I pled not guilty). That same weekend I was hospitalized and as a result had to move back home with family so they could take care of me. I never returned to GA. I'm concerned because it came up on a background check for work. Now my license is up for renewal in my current state and I'm worried about what may happen if I go into DMV to renew it. I called the courthouse to ask if I could just pay the fine since I'm out of state, the said no, that I must appear. I don't have the means or funds to return to GA. How can I fix my dilemma? Can my current state of residence hold it against me - even take me to trial for it? Please help. Thx.

Actually most likely your current license is actually suspended for failure to appear for the DUI.

They either found you guilty by default or they issued a bench warrant for your arrest for failure to appear.

Either way your current lience should have been suspended and if you checked on it at the dmv I bet it is not valud. But if they merely issued a warrant then perhaps it did not void your license.

You need to arrange bail, and travel to GA to appear and get this matter cleared up.
It will only get worst.