# Bill File Submission

## Beginning 2023-2024 RIML Session

* Bill files can be uploaded by **either** students or their advisors
  * Bill files that are uploaded by a student only require the approval of their advisor
  * Bill files that are uploaded by an advisor do not require any approvals

## An Introduction

Bill file submission is the process of a completed bill file being submitted by a student (or on a student's behalf). Participation is required by all three levels of RIML participants (students, advisors, and state coordinators). 

{% hint style="warning" %}
[Bill Title Registration](/legislation/submitting-legislation/bill-title-registration.md) must be completed before Bile File Submission can occur.
{% endhint %}

#### Figure 1: Bill File Submission

![](/files/-MOFJ2j-JcmBp_X2DErj)

{% hint style="info" %}
In the diagram above, green arrows indicate forward progress, red arrows indicate backward progress, and green diamonds indicate completely submitted bills.
{% endhint %}

As shown in the diagram, there is no direct relationship between advisors and state coordinators, other than to submit a bill file. In other words, a state coordinator **cannot** create/reject a bill file and then send it to an advisor; they can only send it to a student. 

Likewise, there is no direct relationship between a student and a state coordinator (a student **cannot** create a bill file and then send it to a state coordinator; they can only send it to their advisor).

This is to ensure a proper chain of approval has been accomplished on every bill file. 

Since students are directly responsible to their advisor, students can only *create* files and send them to their advisor (superior transaction). Since advisors are directly responsible to the state coordinators, advisors can *either* send bill files to their students (lowest subordinate transaction) or send bill files to the state coordinators (superior transaction). Lastly, since state coordinators are the highest possible authority, they can *either* send a bill file directly to a student (lowest subordinate transaction) or approve it. 

## Signature Requirement

Beginning in 75th Session, Students are required to e-sign all bill file submissions. This signature will be visible to state coordinators and advisors during the [approval process](/legislation/submitting-legislation/bill-file-submission.md#an-introduction). 

{% hint style="warning" %}
If a bill file submission **does not** have a signature displayed in the signature box, an advisor or state coordinator must send the bill file submission back to the student for signature. 
{% endhint %}

This requirement was imposed to help students understand and better comply with the Academic Honesty & Plagiarism policy found in the [Handbook](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hXHidhrM3umd0vKDBOAM70gYFscWNf_MrnTMZmYXRBM/edit?usp=sharing). The signature is only visible to (1) a student's advisor and (2) all state coordinators/administrators and will not be visible by anyone outside of the bill file submission process.

## Getting Started

Use the below links to help guide your involvement in this process.

{% content-ref url="/pages/-Md8K0DWMTdtD\_MLpRp1" %}
[Students](/legislation/submitting-legislation/bill-file-submission/students.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/-Md8K5KyFunxfGOP7TPd" %}
[Advisors](/legislation/submitting-legislation/bill-file-submission/advisors.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/-Md8K76dBaZPyuinsCzE" %}
[State Coordinators](/legislation/submitting-legislation/bill-file-submission/state-coordinators.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}


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