(a) A bill may be introduced in the House by a prime sponsor who is a member of the House. The prime sponsor in the House shall designate a prime sponsor in the Senate by making such a designation prior to the introduction of a bill or, in accordance with Joint Rule 24 (a.5), prior to the third reading of a bill in the House.
(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 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 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.
(2) On the first page of a bill, the name of any member who is designated to be the joint prime sponsor shall follow the name of the prime sponsor joined by the word "and". The names of any co-sponsors shall immediately follow the names of the prime sponsor and the joint prime sponsor, if any.
(3) For purposes of any limitations on the number of bills that a member may request or introduce, bills with joint prime sponsors shall be counted as being requested and sponsored by both the prime sponsor and the joint prime sponsor. If either the prime sponsor or the joint prime sponsor has already requested or introduced the total number of bills authorized within any bill limitation, such sponsor shall obtain permission from the delayed bill committee to exceed such limits prior to requesting or introducing such a bill.
(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 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, the rule or procedure 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.
(c) Additional sponsors may be added to a bill prior to introduction of the bill in the House. Co-sponsors may be added to a House bill or a Senate bill immediately following adoption of the bill on third reading or on final passage.
(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.