How the process works

From Rep. Ballweg's office (Thanks to Vince).
The bill is circulating for co-sponsors right now. Once Sen. Sullivan has collected all the names of the co-sponsors, then the bill will be introduced. Then it is up to the leader in the Senate (since Senator Sullivan is the main author) to refer the bill to a committee.

Yes, Rep. Ballweg is a co-sponsor of Sen. Sullivan's bill, there will only be one bill. (some bills have two identical bills introduced, one in each house)

So, there will be one committee that will hold a hearing on the bill in the Senate. If the bill passes that committee, then it will be voted on by the full Senate. If it passes in the Senate, then it is sent over to the Assembly, and it goes through the process again. The bill will be referred to a committee, and that committee can schedule a public hearing, then that committee would have to vote on the bill, and after that, it would be voted on by the full Assembly.

Finally, after passing in both houses, the bill will be sent to the Governor's desk, where he can sign it into law or veto the bill.

Sen. Sullivan's office is correct. In about three weeks, the bill should be introduced and referred to a Senate committee. It is highly unlikely though that whichever committee the bill is referred to will hold a public hearing right away on the bill.

The main focus for both houses of the legislature is the State Budget. It is supposed to be passed by July 1st. Most observers agree that it will be delayed this year, primarily because the legislature is split with democrats controlling the Senate and republicans in charge of the Assembly. Until work on the budget is complete, very few committees will meet to take up other business.

Also, the next floor period is not scheduled until the week of September 17th. Committees can meet prior to that time, but that is the earliest that the bill could get scheduled for a vote by the full Senate.

The process.