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SENATE
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 8401
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AS
AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
State of Washington 55th
Legislature 1997 Regular Session
By
Read first time 1/13/97.
Adopting
procedures for joint bill sponsorship.
WHEREAS,
The members of the legislature have recognized the importance of testing a
system for the joint sponsorship of bills;
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the State of Washington, the House
of Representatives concurring, That during the 1997 legislative session twenty
senate bills, memorials, or resolutions (hereinafter collectively referred to
as "bills") may also be sponsored by a member or members of the House
of Representatives; and twenty house bills may also be sponsored by a member or
members of the Senate; and
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the jointly sponsored bills shall be allocated to the
respective four caucuses as follows: Senate majority caucus, ten bills; Senate
minority caucus, ten bills; House of Representatives majority caucus, eleven
bills; and the House of Representatives minority caucus, nine bills. Each
caucus may determine which of its members' bills are eligible to be jointly
sponsored; and
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the course of Senate bills and House bills that are
jointly sponsored is governed by the Permanent Rules of the Senate or House of
Representatives as the case may be, the Joint Rules of the Senate and House of
Representatives, and any concurrent resolution adopting cutoff dates; except
(1) a jointly sponsored bill must be introduced by Tuesday, February 11, 1997,
the thirtieth day of the 1997 Regular Session, (2) members from the opposite
house may not sign as sponsors of a jointly sponsored bill after the bill has
been dropped into the hopper in the Office of the Code Reviser, and (3) before
a jointly sponsored bill may be dropped into the hopper it must be available for
one day in the Secretary of the Senate's office, in the case of a House bill,
and the Chief Clerk's office, in the case of a Senate bill, for members to sign
as cosponsors. The Secretary and Chief Clerk shall establish procedures for
notifying members of the bill's availability for sponsorship; and
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a jointly sponsored bill must be distinguishable from
other bills by carrying a signature sheet and bill back of colors different
that those used for other bills; and before producing a jointly sponsored bill,
the Office of the Code Reviser must have received a written request signed by
the Secretary of the Senate, Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives, and
the leader of the caucus whose member is the first sponsor on the bill; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That prefiled bills may be redrafted and
introduced as jointly sponsored bills under the procedures described in this
resolution.
