Rachael Booth Act

To make transitional compensation available to dependents of members of the Armed Forces convicted of dependent abuse in Federal or State court and dependents of members accused of dependent abuse who have forfeited all pay and allowances for an unrelated offense. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Rachael Booth Act 2. Modifications to transitional compensation for dependents of members separated for dependent abuse (a) Covered punitive actions Subsection (b) of section 1059 of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ; or (2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (3) who is— (A) convicted of a dependent-abuse offense in a district court of the United States or a State court; and (B) separated from active duty pursuant to a sentence of a court-martial, or administratively separated, voluntarily or involuntarily, from active duty, for an offense other than the dependent-abuse offense; or (4) who is— (A) accused but not convicted of a dependent-abuse offense; (B) determined, as a result of a review by the commander of the member and based on a preponderance of evidence, to have committed the dependent-abuse offense; and (C) required to forfeit all pay and allowances pursuant to a sentence of a court-martial for an offense other than the dependent-abuse offense. . (b) Recipients of payments Subsection (d) of such section is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by striking resulting in the separation referred to in subsection (b) (2) in paragraph (4)— (A) by striking determined as of the date (A) as of the date ; (B) by striking offense or, in a case (B) in a case ; (C) by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or (D) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (C) in a case described in subsection (b)(4), as of, as applicable— (i) the first date on which the individual is held in pretrial confinement relating to the dependent-abuse offense of which the individual is accused after the 7-day review of pretrial confinement required by Rule 305(i)(2) of the Rules for Courts-Martial; or (ii) the date on which a review by a commander of the individual determines there is probable cause that the individual has committed that offense. . (c) Commencement of payment Subsection (e)(1) of such section is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A)— (A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting after offense or an offense described in subsection (b)(3)(B) (B) in clause (ii), by striking ; and (2) in subparagraph (B)— (A) by striking (if the basis offense) (B) by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (C) in the case of a member described in subsection (b)(4), shall commence as of, as applicable— (i) the first date on which the member is held in pretrial confinement relating to the dependent-abuse offense of which the member is accused after the 7-day review of pretrial confinement required by Rule 305(i)(2) of the Rules for Courts-Martial; or (ii) the date on which a review by a commander of the member determines there is probable cause that the member has committed that offense. . (d) Definition of dependent child Subsection (l) of such section is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1)— (1) by striking resulting in the separation of the former member or referred to in subsection (b) or (2) by striking resulting in the separation of the former member and and (e) Delegation of determinations relating to exceptional eligibility Subsection (m)(4) of such section is amended to read as follows: (4) The Secretary concerned may delegate the authority under paragraph (1) to authorize eligibility for benefits under this section for dependents and former dependents of a member or former member to the first general or flag officer (or civilian equivalent) in the chain of command of the member. .

Summary: Rachel Booth Act This bill expands eligibility for transitional compensation payments to dependents (or former dependents) of certain members of the Armed Forces who have committed a dependent-abuse offense. Specifically, the bill provides eligibility for transitional compensation to dependents of members of the Armed Forces in situations where a member (1) has been convicted of a dependent-abuse offense in a civilian court but has been separated from duty for an offense other than the abuse offense; or (2) has been accused but not convicted of such an offense, but has been determined to have committed the offense by a commander and required to forfeit pay and allowances for an offense other than the abuse offense. For purposes of determining a recipient of payments under such circumstances, an individual's status as a dependent child must be determined as of the first date on which an individual is held in pretrial confinement relating to the dependent-abuse offense or the date on which the commander determines there is probable cause the individual has committed the offense. The bill prescribes when transitional compensation payments must commence based on the status of the conviction or confinement. The military department concerned may delegate authority to authorize eligibility for benefits for dependents (and former dependents) to the first general or flag officer (or civilian equivalent) in the chain of command of the offending member.