Changes to Existing Law

Prefiled bills--Persons authorized--Rules. Any person who has been duly elected or appointed to serve during a regular session of the Legislature may file bills and resolutions with the State Legislative Research Council at any time within thirty days prior to the convening of such regular session. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 2-7-6.1, any interim committee of the Legislative Research Council may file bills and resolutions under the provisions of this section. The Executive Board of the State Legislative Research Council shall prescribe rules for the 29 Catchlines are not law. (§ 2-16-13.1) handling and placing in proper form of such bills and resolutions, subject to the provisions of §§ 2-7-4 to 2-7-6, inclusive and 2-7-5. 2

Prefiled bills--Numbering, printing and disposition--Introduction. The director of the Legislative Research Council shall, within the confines of such in accordance with rules adopted by the Legislature, receive such the prefiled bills and resolutions, place them in proper form, and assign them numbers for introduction in the proper house, and deliver copies to the printing contractor for presession printing. The director shall electronically deliver the original and one copy of each bill and resolution to the secretary of the Senate or the chief clerk of the House of Representatives, as the case may be, on the day when the session convenes. However, the director may not deliver any prefiled bill or resolution until every sponsor of such the bill or resolution has been duly sworn into office. Upon prefiling, such the bills and resolutions become the property of the Legislature and may not thereafter be withdrawn. Prefiled bills and resolutions shall be considered as introduced on the day of their delivery to each house first legislative day.

Prison or jail population--Cost estimate--Requirements. A prison or jail population cost estimate shall be electronically attached to any bill or amendment, except misdemeanor penalties, that may impact the state prison or county jail population. A prison or jail population cost estimate shall be prepared for a bill or amendment with a Class 1 misdemeanor penalty only upon a request authorized by the rules of the Legislature. The requirement for a cost estimate includes each bill or amendment that meets the penalty requirements of this section and that increases the period of imprisonment authorized for an existing crime, that adds a new crime for which imprisonment is authorized, that imposes a minimum or mandatory minimum term of imprisonment, or that modifies any law governing release of a prisoner from imprisonment or supervision. The sponsor of the legislation or amendment shall request and allow sufficient time to prepare a cost estimate from the Legislative Research Council. The cost estimate shall be completed for a bill or amendment before the bill or amendment is considered by any standing committee of the Legislature.