Introduction

§ 2. Introduction. a. Every bill introduced in the House shall be in duplicate and accompanied by the introducer's memorandum in quadruplicate. Such bill shall be presented by the introducer to the Index Clerk and delivered by the Index Clerk to the Office of Assembly Revision for the purposes set forth in subdivision a of section eight of this Rule. Thereafter, such bill shall be referred to a standing committee, other than the Committee on Rules, by the Speaker, assigned a number, printed and placed on the desks of the members. The Index Clerk shall, on the day of its introduction, cause such bill to be transmitted to the printer. A copy of each bill shall be available for public inspection in the Office of Assembly Revision. The Office of Assembly Revision shall maintain a photocopy machine for use by the public to copy any such bill at a per page price to be established by the Speaker pursuant to the "Freedom of Information Law". b. On or after November fifteenth of a calendar year, a member and member-elect may submit a bill, in accordance with subdivision a of this section, for introduction at the commencement of the following legislative session. Such prefiled bill shall be assigned a number and referred to a committee, but shall not be deemed introduced until the commencement of such legislative session. c. Each time a bill is amended and reprinted, a letter of the alphabet, starting with "A", shall be added to its number. d. All bills, whether introduced in the House or communicated by message from the Senate, or by the Governor pursuant to Article VII of the Constitution, shall be deemed to have had their first reading unless otherwise ordered by the House and shall be referred to a standing committee, to consider and report thereon. At any time the Speaker may, with the consent of the House, change the reference of any bill. Every message from the Senate communicating an amendment to an Assembly bill shall, except with unanimous consent for immediate passage, be referred to the committee which reported the bill with power to report at any time. e. No bill shall be introduced in the House except in one of the following modes: (1) by a member; (2) by a report of a standing committee; (3) by order of the House; (4) by message from the Senate; and (5) by the Governor under Article VII of the Constitution. f. (1) Any Assembly bill introduced in the regular legislative session of the first year of the term of the Assembly shall be deemed to be reintroduced for the second year of such term, provided such bill was: (a) not reported from a standing committee; (b) reported and referred; (c) recommitted to a standing committee; or (d) referred back to a standing committee by the Committee on Rules immediately prior to adjournment sine die. (2) Any Assembly bill which in the first year of the term of the Assembly was passed by the Assembly and did not become law, was not vetoed, or was substituted by a Senate bill which did not become law or which was not vetoed, shall be deemed to be reintroduced for the second year of such term and shall be ordered to the order of third reading, except that: (a) any such bill which in such first year required a home rule message for passage shall be referred to the committee to which such bill was originally referred; (b) upon request of the introducer or the chairperson of the committee to which such bill was originally referred, such bill shall be committed to the committee to which it was originally referred provided, however, such request may not be made later than the second Wednesday following the commencement of the second year of the term of the Assembly; (c) any such bill making an appropriation of money which was not referred to a committee pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph, shall be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means; and (d) upon the request of the chairperson of the Committee on Ways and Means, any bill not referred to a committee pursuant to subparagraph (a) or (b) of this paragraph, which in such first year was reported and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to section six of Rule IV shall be committed to the Committee on Ways and Means provided, however, such request may not be made later than the second Wednesday following the commencement of the second year of the term of the Assembly. g. When a bill is submitted or proposed by the Governor by authority of Article VII of the Constitution, it shall become, for all legislative purposes, a legislative bill, and upon receipt thereof by the Assembly it shall be endorsed "Budget Bill" and be given a number by the Index Clerk, and shall be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and be printed. Bills submitted by the Governor, other than those submitted pursuant to Article VII of the Constitution, shall carry the designation "Introduced at the request of the Governor". h. Whenever a member requests the preparation of legislation from the Legislative Bill Drafting Commission, the bill drafter assigned to prepare such legislation shall determine if a similar bill has already been introduced, and, if a similar bill has been introduced, the Legislative Bill Drafting Commission, on forms prescribed by the Commission, shall notify the member of such fact and inform him that subdivision b of section three of this Rule permits a member to become a multi-sponsor of a bill already printed by filing a request therefor with the Index Clerk. Notwithstanding that a similar bill has previously been introduced, a member shall have the right to have the legislation requested prepared by the Commission for introduction.