Introduction
Once a bill has gone through all the amending phases and is ready for enactment, its content will need updating so that it becomes an Act rather than a bill.
How to convert a bill into an Act
- Select Duplicate version from the drop-down menu on the tile of the document version you want to convert into an Act
- The system will ask you to specify a stage and a version description
- When you have provided a stage and version description, select the ‘Convert bill to act’ checkbox and click Create
- The system will create a duplicate version of the document, converting it into an Act and display it on the ‘Project’ tab, under the new stage heading if a different one was specified
Hints and tips
- It is possible to delete elements if they are not required e.g. Table of Contents, Explanatory Notes rubric, Assent date in the date of enactment rubric, Act Year and Act Number
- It is not possible to generate an Act version if the document is already an Act version.
SP Bills only
- To create Official Print and Queen’s Copy, it is advised to duplicate the Palace copy and select ‘convert bill to act’ for both copies.
- Converting a Scottish Bill into an Act of the Scottish Parliament will make the following changes:
- Updates the XML so that it is now an Act document
- Inserts the Act front cover (containing Short title, Act Year, ASP Number and Explanatory Notes statement)
- Inserts new Table of Contents (containing Short title, Act Year, Act Number)
- The date of enactment rubric will be added above the long title in the preface and the Act Year and Act Number will be inserted under the Short title in the preface
- “Bill” in the short title will be changed to “Act” and the Act Year inserted at the end
- The stage version rubric will be removed, as will the Accompanying Document rubric and back cover if there is one
UK Bills only
- Converting a UK Bill into an Act will make the following changes:
- Updates the XML so that it is now an Act document
- Inserts the Act front cover (containing Short title, Chapter Number and Explanatory Notes statement)
- Inserts new Table of Contents (containing Short title, Chapter Number)
- The date of enactment rubric will be added after the long title and the Act Year and Chapter Number will be inserted under the Short title in the preface
- “Bill” in the short title will be changed to “Act” and the Act Year inserted at the end
- “Bill” in the long title will be changed to “Act”
- The stage version rubric will be removed, as will the back cover if there is one