Preparing 'as introduced' NI bill versions
- Sarah Cogan
If the bill is an Executive Bill, the OLC will need to share it with NI Assembly before you can access it
From the Dashboard—
Find and open the relevant Project
From the Project tab—
Open the appropriate document in the Editor
If the Bill was an Executive Bill, it will look like the screenshot below—
Find the shared bill version on right hand side of the ‘Project’ tab (it will have the label ‘Shared’)
Select ‘Actions > Duplicate version’
Specify—
Folder name = “As Introduced”
Version description = “As Introduced”
Leave ‘Strip out page/line numbers' checked by default
click on Create button
In the Editor—
Check the short title is correct,
Check the subtype is correct e.g. 'Executive Bill'
Update the Version rubric to “As Introduced”
Add the correct Mandate e.g. '22-27'
Add the bill number e.g. 'NIA Bill 22'
Add the introduction date
Add the Sponsor (select the name and not the ministerial/chair title)
Check document check warnings: generally “advisory” warnings can be ignored if you disagree with them; but mandatory ones would ideally be addressed.
Check XML warnings: if any exist that you do not understand, then raise a support request and the support team will help fix the issue.
Check the ‘Review’ right-hand panel for any tracked changes or comments accidentally left in the document and remove these if there are.
Check for and delete all J-refs: these are references used by drafters when drafting the bill and should already have been removed before the bill is shared ready for introduction.
Run a spell-check over the whole document.
Insert front & back covers, including table of contents as required.
Generate a PDF and check you are happy with the presentation (there are limited options for changing the presentation of a PDF, but you can insert page breaks within the text of the bill if needed)
Send PDF for checking