2016 HOUSE RESOLUTION 16-1008 BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Duran, Hullinghorst, DelGrosso, Ginal, Kraft-Tharp, Pabon, Vigil, Young. CONCERNING CHANGES TO HOUSE RULE 27A REGARDING THE SPONSORSHIP OF BILLS. That in the Rules of the House of Representatives, Rule No. 27A, amend (b) (1), (b) (4), (d), and (e); and repeal and reenact with amendments (f) as follows: 27A. Sponsorship of Bills (b) A prime sponsor in the House may also elect to designate one other member of the House to act as a joint prime sponsor in the House and one other member of the Senate to act as a joint prime sponsor in the Senate. Designation of a joint prime sponsor shall be in accordance with the following: (1) The prime sponsor shall designate the a joint prime House sponsor prior to the introduction of a bill in the House or immediately following second reading of the bill but prior to adoption of the bill on third reading either in the House or the Senate. The prime sponsor may also designate the a joint prime Senate sponsor prior to the introduction of a bill in the House or immediately following second reading of the bill but prior to adoption of the bill on third reading either in the House or the Senate. (4) Both a prime sponsor and a joint prime sponsor, once designated, are responsible for the handling or processing of a bill in the legislative process. Either such sponsor may present a bill in committee or on the floor and may request and offer, when appropriate, amendments to the bill. If any rule or procedure requires notice, filing, or other communication with a sponsor of a bill, such the rule or procedure shall be is deemed to be complied with by providing the notice, filing, or communication to either the prime sponsor or the joint prime sponsor. For purposes of tracking a bill in the legislative process, the name of the prime sponsor may be used without the name of the joint prime sponsor. (d) Prior to the introduction of a bill in the House: (d) (1) The designation by a House prime sponsor of a prime sponsor in the Senate or of a joint prime sponsor in the House or in the Senate shall be subject to the approval of the member being designated; and (2) Prior to the introduction of a bill in the House, the designation of any additional sponsors shall be subject to the approval of the House prime sponsor of the bill and the approval of any additional sponsor who is being added. (e) When a prime sponsor of a House bill that is pending in the House is unable to continue to sponsor the bill because of resignation, serious illness or other incapacity, or death, and there is no joint prime sponsor, the Speaker may designate a substitute prime sponsor. Similarly, in the case of a House bill with a prime sponsor and a joint prime sponsor, when both sponsors are unable to continue to sponsor a bill because of resignation, serious illness or other incapacity, or death, the Speaker may designate a substitute prime sponsor and, in the Speaker's discretion, a substitute joint prime sponsor. In the case of a House bill pending in the House with a prime sponsor and a joint prime sponsor, when the House joint prime sponsor requests to have his or her name removed from the bill for a reason other than those stated in this subsection (e), the Speaker may remove the House joint prime sponsor's name. Prior to removing or making any such sponsor substitution, the Speaker shall consult with any member listed on the bill as a prime sponsor in the Senate. The Speaker shall announce the removal or substitution of any such sponsors to the members of the House during regular business. (f) (1) The prime sponsor of a House bill that is pending in the House may designate a substitute Senate prime sponsor prior to third reading of the bill in the House when: (A) The Senate prime sponsor becomes unable to continue to act as a sponsor because of resignation, serious illness or other incapacity, or death; or (B) The Speaker has removed the Senate prime sponsor's name from the bill pursuant to paragraph (2.5) of this subsection (f). (2) Similarly, in the case of a House bill with a Senate prime sponsor and a Senate joint prime sponsor, the prime sponsor in the House may designate a substitute Senate prime sponsor and, in the House prime sponsor's discretion, a substitute Senate joint prime sponsor prior to third reading of the bill in the House when: (A) Both Senate sponsors are unable to continue to sponsor the bill because of resignation, serious illness or other incapacity, or death; or (B) The Speaker has removed one or both Senate sponsors' names from the bill pursuant to paragraph (2.5) of this subsection (f). (2.5) Upon the request of a Senate prime sponsor of a House bill pending in the House, the Speaker may remove the Senate prime sponsor's name from the bill for a reason other than those stated in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of this subsection (f) prior to third reading in the House. In the case of a House bill pending in the House with a Senate prime sponsor and a Senate joint prime sponsor, upon the request of one or both such Senate sponsors, the Speaker may remove the name of one or both of the Senate sponsors for a reason other than those stated in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of this subsection (f) prior to third reading in the House. (3) The House prime sponsor shall notify the chief clerk of the House in writing of any such change of sponsorship in the Senate and the chief clerk shall order that the change of the Senate sponsorship appear in the reengrossed bill. ________________________________________________________ Marilyn Eddins Dickey Lee Hullinghorst CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF REPRESENTATIVES