24A. SPONSORSHIP OF BILLS
Senate Rules
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24A. SPONSORSHIP OF BILLS
(a) A bill may be introduced in the Senate by a prime sponsor who is a member of the Senate. The prime sponsor in the Senate shall designate a prime sponsor in the House 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 Senate.

(b) A prime sponsor in the Senate may also elect to designate one other member of the Senate to act as a joint prime sponsor in the Senate and one other member of the House to act as a joint prime sponsor in the House. Designation of a joint prime sponsor shall be in accordance with the following:

(1) The prime sponsor shall designate a joint prime Senate sponsor prior to the introduction of a bill in the Senate or immediately following second reading of the bill but prior to adoption of the bill on third reading either in the Senate or the House. The prime sponsor may also designate a joint prime House sponsor prior to the introduction of a bill in the Senate or immediately following second reading of the bill but prior to adoption of the bill on third reading either in the Senate or the House.

(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) Sponsors may be added to a bill prior to introduction of the bill in the Senate. Co-sponsors may be added to a Senate bill or a House bill immediately following adoption of the bill on third reading or on final passage.

(d) Prior to the introduction of a bill in the Senate:

(1) The designation by a Senate prime sponsor of a prime sponsor in the House or of a joint prime sponsor in the Senate or in the House shall be subject to the approval of the member being designated; and

(2) The addition of any sponsors shall be subject to the approval of the Senate prime sponsor of the bill and the approval of any sponsor who is being added.

(e) When a prime sponsor of a Senate bill that is pending in the Senate 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 President may designate a substitute prime sponsor. Similarly, in the case of a Senate 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 President may designate a substitute prime sponsor and, in the President's discretion, a substitute joint prime sponsor. In the case of a Senate bill pending in the Senate with a prime sponsor and a joint prime sponsor, when the Senate 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 President may remove the Senate joint prime sponsor's name. Prior to removing or making any such sponsor substitution, the President shall consult with any member listed on the bill as a prime sponsor in the House. The President shall announce the removal or substitution of any such sponsors to the members of the Senate during regular business.

(f) (1) The prime sponsor of a Senate bill that is pending in the Senate may designate a substitute House prime sponsor prior to third reading of the bill in the Senate when:

(A) The House prime sponsor becomes unable to continue to act as a sponsor because of resignation, serious illness or other incapacity, or death; or

(B) The President has removed the House prime sponsor's name from the bill pursuant to paragraph (2.5) of this subsection (f).

(2) Similarly, in the case of a Senate bill with a House prime sponsor and a House joint prime sponsor, the prime sponsor in the Senate may designate a substitute House prime sponsor and, in the Senate prime sponsor's discretion, a substitute House joint prime sponsor prior to third reading of the bill in the Senate when:

(A) Both House sponsors are unable to continue to sponsor the bill because of resignation, serious illness or other incapacity, or death; or

(B) The President has removed one or both House sponsor's names from the bill pursuant to paragraph (2.5) of this subsection (f).

(2.5) Upon the request of a House prime sponsor of a Senate bill pending in the Senate, the President may remove the House 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 Senate. In the case of a Senate bill pending in the Senate with a House prime sponsor and a House joint prime sponsor, upon the request of one or both such House sponsors, the President may remove the name of one or both of the House sponsors for a reason other than those stated in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of this subsection (f) prior to third reading in the Senate.

(3) The Senate prime sponsor shall notify the secretary of the Senate in writing of any such change of sponsorship in the House and the secretary shall order that the change of the House sponsorship appear in the reengrossed bill.