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advice, input, or counsel regarding military policy re-
lated to religious liberty. 
(2) CONTENTS
OF
NOTICE.—Notice provided 
under paragraph (1) shall include information on the 
time, date, location, and anticipated attendees of the 
meeting and information on who initiated the meet-
ing. 
(3) VERBAL NOTICE.—If a meeting to which 
this subsection applies is scheduled less than 24 
hours in advance of the meeting, the notice require-
ment under paragraph (1) may be satisfied by a 
phone call if Committee staff provide verbal con-
firmation of receipt of the notice. 
(b) REPORTS.—Not later than 72 hours after the 
conclusion of a meeting to which subsection (a) applies, 
the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committee 
on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate a report 
on the meeting, which shall include information on the 
time, date, location, duration, and attendees of the meet-
ing and information on who initiated the meeting. 
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SEC. 530F. PROOF OF PERIOD OF MILITARY SERVICE FOR 
PURPOSES OF INTEREST RATE LIMITATION 
UNDER THE SERVICEMEMBERS CIVIL RELIEF 
ACT. 
Section 207(b)(1) of the Servicemembers Civil Relief 
Act (50 U.S.C. App. 527(b)(1)) is amended by inserting 
after ‘‘calling the servicemember to military service’’ the 
following: ‘‘, or other appropriate indicator of military 
service, including a certified letter from a commanding of-
ficer or information from the Defense Manpower Database 
Center,’’. 
SEC. 530G. POLICY ON MILITARY RECRUITMENT AND EN-
LISTMENT OF GRADUATES OF SECONDARY 
SCHOOLS. 
(a) CONDITIONS ON USE OF TEST, ASSESSMENT, OR 
SCREENING TOOLS.—In the case of any test, assessment, 
or screening tool utilized under the policy on recruitment 
and enlistment required by subsection (b) of section 532 
of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2012 (Public Law 112–81; 125 Stat. 1403; 10 U.S.C. 503 
note) for the purpose of identifying persons for recruit-
ment and enlistment in the Armed Forces, the Secretary 
of Defense shall— 
(1) implement a means for ensuring that grad-
uates of a secondary school (as defined in section 
9101(38) of the Elementary and Secondary Edu-
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cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801(38)), including 
all persons described in subsection (a)(2) of section 
532 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2012, are required to meet the same 
standard on the test, assessment, or screening tool; 
and 
(2) use uniform testing requirements and grad-
ing standards. 
(b) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in section 
532(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fis-
cal Year 2012 or this section shall be construed to permit 
the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of a military 
department to create or use a different grading standard 
on any test, assessment, or screening tool utilized for the 
purpose of identifying graduates of a secondary school (as 
defined in section 9101(38) of the Elementary and Sec-
ondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801(38)), in-
cluding all persons described in subsection (a)(2) of sec-
tion 532 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2012, for recruitment and enlistment in the 
Armed Forces. 
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SEC. 530H. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT ON USE OF 
DETERMINATION 
OF 
PERSONALITY 
DIS-
ORDER OR ADJUSTMENT DISORDER AS BASIS 
TO SEPARATE MEMBERS FROM THE ARMED 
FORCES. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 
States shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services 
of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report 
evaluating— 
(1) the use by the Secretaries of the military 
departments, since January 1, 2007, of the author-
ity to separate members of the Armed Forces from 
the Armed Forces due of unfitness for duty because 
of a mental condition not amounting to disability, 
including separation on the basis of a personality 
disorder or adjustment disorder and the total num-
ber of members separated on such basis; 
(2) the extent to which the Secretaries failed to 
comply with regulatory requirements in separating 
members of the Armed Forces on the basis of a per-
sonality or adjustment disorder; and 
(3) the impact of such a separation on the abil-
ity of veterans so separated to access service-con-
nected disability compensation, disability severance 
pay, and disability retirement pay. 
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Subtitle D—Military Justice, In-
cluding Sexual Assault Preven-
tion and Response 
SEC. 531. LIMITATIONS ON CONVENING AUTHORITY DIS-
CRETION REGARDING COURT-MARTIAL FIND-
INGS AND SENTENCE. 
(a) ELIMINATION OF UNLIMITED COMMAND PRE-
ROGATIVE AND DISCRETION.—Paragraph (1) of section 
860(c) of title 10, United States Code (article 60(c) of 
the Uniform Code of Military Justice) is amended by 
striking the first sentence. 
(b) LIMITATIONS
ON
DISCRETION
REGARDING 
COURT-MARTIAL FINDINGS.—Paragraph (3) of section 
860(c) of title 10, United States Code (article 60(c) of 
the Uniform Code of Military Justice) is amended to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(3)(A) Action on the findings of a court-martial by 
the convening authority or by another person authorized 
to act under this section is not required. 
‘‘(B) If the convening authority or another person au-
thorized to act under this section acts on the findings of 
a court-martial, the convening authority or other person 
may not— 
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‘‘(i) dismiss any charge or specification, other 
than a charge or specification for a qualifying of-
fense, by setting aside a finding of guilty thereto; or 
‘‘(ii) change a finding of guilty to a charge or 
specification, other than a charge or specification for 
a qualifying offense, to a finding of guilty to an of-
fense that is a lesser included offense of the offense 
stated in the charge or specification. 
‘‘(C) If the convening authority or another person au-
thorized to act under this section acts on the findings to 
dismiss or change any charge or specification for a quali-
fying offense, the convening authority or other person 
shall provide, at that same time, a written explanation of 
the reasons for such action. The written explanation shall 
be made a part of the record of the trial and action there-
on. 
‘‘(D)(i) In this paragraph, the term ‘qualifying of-
fense’ means, except in the case of an offense specified 
in clause (ii), an offense under this chapter for which— 
‘‘(I) the maximum sentence of confinement that 
may be adjudged does not exceed two years; and 
‘‘(II) the sentence adjudged does not include 
dismissal, a dishonorable or bad-conduct discharge, 
or confinement for more than six months. 
‘‘(ii) Such term does not include the following: 
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‘‘(I) An offense under section 920 of this title 
(article 120). 
‘‘(II) An offense under section 928 of this title 
(article 128), if such offense consisted of assault 
consummated by battery upon child under 16 years 
of age. 
‘‘(III) An offense under section 934 of this title 
(article 134), if such offense consisted of indecent 
language communicated to child under the age of 16 
years. 
‘‘(IV) Such other offenses as the Secretary of 
Defense may exclude by regulation.’’. 
(c) LIMITATIONS ON DISCRETION TO MODIFY AN AD-
JUDGED SENTENCE.—Section 860(c) of title 10, United 
States Code (article 60(c) of the Uniform Code of Military 
Justice) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘The con-
vening authority’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(B) Except as provided in paragraph (4), the con-
vening authority’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(4)(A) Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) 
and (C), the convening authority or another person au-
thorized to act under this section may not modify an ad-
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judged sentence of confinement or a punitive discharge or 
disapprove, commute, or suspend an adjudged sentence of 
confinement or a punitive discharge in whole or in part. 
‘‘(B)(i) Upon the recommendation of the trial coun-
sel, the convening authority or another person authorized 
to act under this section shall have the authority to impose 
a sentence below a level established by statute as a min-
imum sentence, to impose a sentence of confinement below 
the adjudged confinement sentence, or to disapprove, com-
mute, or suspend the adjudged sentence in whole or in 
part in recognition of the substantial assistance by the ac-
cused in the investigation or prosecution of another person 
who has committed an offense. 
‘‘(ii) If a mandatory minimum sentence exists for a 
charge, the convening authority or another person author-
ized to act under this section may not modify an adjudged 
sentence to reduce the sentence to less than the mandatory 
minimum sentence or disapprove, commute, or suspend 
the adjudged mandatory minimum sentence in whole or 
in part. This limitation does not restrict the discretion of 
the convening authority or another person authorized to 
act under this section to modify, disapprove, commute, or 
suspend any portion of the adjudged sentence that is in 
addition to the mandatory minimum sentence. 
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‘‘(C) In addition, if a mandatory minimum sentence 
does not exist for a charge and a pre-trial agreement has 
been entered into by the convening authority and the ac-
cused, as authorized by Rule for Court-Martial 705, the 
convening authority or another person authorized to act 
under this section may take action to reduce, dismiss, or 
suspend an adjudged sentence of confinement in whole or 
in part pursuant to the terms of the pre-trial agreement.’’. 
(d) 
EXPLANATION
FOR
ANY
DECISION
DIS-
APPROVING, COMMUTING, OR SUSPENDING COURT-MAR-
TIAL SENTENCE.—Section 860(c)(2) of title 10, United 
States Code (article 60(c)(2) of the Uniform Code of Mili-
tary Justice), as amended by subsection (c)(1), is further 
amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(A)’’ after ‘‘(2)’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(C) If the convening authority or another person au-
thorized to act under this section acts to disapprove, com-
mute, or suspend the sentence in whole or in part, the 
convening authority or other person shall provide, at that 
same time, a written explanation of the reasons for such 
action. The written explanation shall be made a part of 
the record of the trial and action thereon.’’. 
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(e) CONFORMING AMENDMENT TO OTHER AUTHOR-
ITY
FOR CONVENING AUTHORITY
TO SUSPEND SEN-
TENCE.—Section 871(d) of such title (article 71(d) of the 
Uniform Code of Military Justice) is amended by adding 
at the end the following new sentence: ‘‘Paragraphs (2) 
and (4) of subsection (c) of section 860 of this title (article 
60) shall apply to any decision by the convening authority 
or such person to suspend the execution of any sentence 
or part thereof under this subsection.’’. 
(f) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect to 
findings and sentences of courts-martial reported to con-
vening authorities under section 860 of title 10, United 
States Code (article 60 of the Uniform Code of Military 
Justice), as amended by this section, on or after that ef-
fective date. 
SEC. 532. ELIMINATION OF FIVE-YEAR STATUTE OF LIMITA-
TIONS ON TRIAL BY COURT-MARTIAL FOR AD-
DITIONAL 
OFFENSES 
INVOLVING 
SEX-RE-
LATED CRIMES. 
(a) INCLUSION OF ADDITIONAL OFFENSES.—Section 
843(a) of title 10, United States Code (article 43(a) of 
the Uniform Code of Military Justice) is amended by 
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striking ‘‘rape, or rape of a child’’ and inserting ‘‘rape 
or sexual assault, or rape or sexual assault of a child’’. 
(b) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENT.—Section 
843(b)(2)(B)(i) of title 10, United States Code (article 
43(b)(2)(B)(i) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice) 
is amended by inserting before the period at the end the 
following: ‘‘, unless the offense is covered by subsection 
(a)’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect on the date of the enactment 
of this Act, and shall apply with respect to an offense cov-
ered by section 920(b) or 920b(b) of title 10, United 
States Code (article 120(b) or 120b(b) of the Uniform 
Code of Military Justice) that is committed on or after 
that date. 
SEC. 533. DISCHARGE OR DISMISSAL FOR CERTAIN SEX-RE-
LATED OFFENSES AND TRIAL OF OFFENSES 
BY GENERAL COURTS-MARTIAL. 
(a) MANDATORY DISCHARGE
OR DISMISSAL RE-
QUIRED.— 
(1) IMPOSITION.—Section 856 of title 10, 
United States Code (article 56 of the Uniform Code 
of Military Justice) is amended— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘(a)’’ before ‘‘The punish-
ment’’; and 
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(B) by adding at the end the following new 
subsection: 
‘‘(b)(1) While a person subject to this chapter who 
is found guilty of an offense specified in paragraph (2) 
shall be punished as a general court-martial may direct, 
such punishment must include, at a minimum, dismissal 
or dishonorable discharge. 
‘‘(2) Paragraph (1) applies to the following offenses: 
‘‘(A) An offense in violation of subsection (a) or 
(b) of section 920 (article 120(a) or (b)). 
‘‘(B) Forcible sodomy under section 925 of this 
title (article 125). 
‘‘(C) An attempt to commit an offense specified 
in subparagraph (A) or (B) that is punishable under 
section 880 of this title (article 80).’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS.— 
(A) SECTION HEADING.—The heading of 
such section is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 856. Art. 56. Maximum and minimum limits’’. 
(B) TABLE OF SECTIONS.—The table of 
sections at the beginning of subchapter VIII of 
chapter 47 of such title is amended by striking 
the item relating to section 856 and inserting 
the following new item: 
‘‘856. Art 56. Maximum and minimum limits.’’. 
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(b) JURISDICTION LIMITED TO GENERAL COURTS- 
MARTIAL.—Section 818 of title 10, United States Code 
(article 18 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice) is 
amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(a)’’ before the first sentence; 
(2) in the third sentence, by striking ‘‘However, 
a general court-martial’’ and inserting the following: 
‘‘(b) A general court-martial’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(c) Consistent with sections 819, 820, and 856(b) 
of this title (articles 19, 20, and 56(b)), only general 
courts-martial have jurisdiction over an offense specified 
in section 856(b)(2) of this title (article 56(b)(2)).’’. 
(c) ADDITIONAL DUTIES FOR INDEPENDENT PAN-
ELS.— 
(1) RESPONSE
SYSTEMS
PANEL.—The inde-
pendent panel established by the Secretary of De-
fense under subsection (a)(1) of section 576 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2013 (Public Law 112–239; 126 Stat. 1758) shall 
assess the appropriateness of statutorily mandated 
minimum sentencing provisions for additional of-
fenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. 
The panel shall include the results of the assessment 
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in the report required by subsection (c)(1) of such 
section. 
(2) JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS PANEL.—The inde-
pendent panel established by the Secretary of De-
fense under subsection (a)(2) of section 576 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2013 (Public Law 112–239; 126 Stat. 1758) shall 
assess the implementation and effect of the manda-
tory minimum sentences established by section 
856(b) of title 10, United States Code (article 56(b) 
of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), as added 
by subsection (a) of this section. The panel shall in-
clude the results of the assessment in one of the re-
ports required by subsection (c)(2)(B) of such sec-
tion 576. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, and apply to offenses specified 
in section 856(b)(2) of title 10, United States Code (arti-
cle 56(b)(2) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), as 
added by subsection (a)(1), committed after that date. 
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SEC. 534. REGULATIONS REGARDING CONSIDERATION OF 
APPLICATION FOR PERMANENT CHANGE OF 
STATION OR UNIT TRANSFER BY VICTIMS OF 
SEXUAL ASSAULT. 
Section 673(b) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘The Secretaries of the military de-
partments’’ and inserting ‘‘The Secretary concerned’’. 
SEC. 535. CONSIDERATION OF NEED FOR, AND AUTHORITY 
TO PROVIDE FOR, TEMPORARY ADMINISTRA-
TIVE REASSIGNMENT OR REMOVAL OF A 
MEMBER ON ACTIVE DUTY WHO IS ACCUSED 
OF COMMITTING A SEXUAL ASSAULT OR RE-
LATED OFFENSE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 39 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 673 the 
following new section: 
‘‘§ 674. Temporary administrative reassignment or re-
moval of a member on active duty ac-
cused of committing a sexual assault or 
related offense 
‘‘(a) GUIDANCE FOR TIMELY CONSIDERATION AND 
ACTION.—The Secretary concerned may provide guidance, 
within guidelines provided by the Secretary of Defense, for 
commanders regarding their authority to make a timely 
determination, and to take action, regarding whether a 
member of the armed forces serving on active duty who 
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is alleged to have committed a sexual assault or other sex- 
related offense covered by section 920, 920a, 920b, or 
920c of this title (article 120, 120a, 120b, or 120c of the 
Uniform Code of Military Justice) should be temporarily 
reassigned or removed from a position of authority or as-
signment, not as a punitive measure, but solely for the 
purpose of maintaining good order and discipline within 
the member’s unit. 
‘‘(b) TIME FOR DETERMINATIONS.—A determination 
described in subsection (a) may be made at any time after 
receipt of notification of an unrestricted report of a sexual 
assault or other sex-related offense that identifies the 
member as an alleged perpetrator.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 673 the following new 
item: 
‘‘674. Temporary administrative reassignment or removal of a member on active 
duty accused of committing a sexual assault or related of-
fense.’’. 
(c) ADDITIONAL TRAINING REQUIREMENT FOR COM-
MANDERS.—The Secretary of Defense shall provide for in-
clusion of information and discussion regarding the avail-
ability and use of the authority provided by section 674 
of title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection 
(a), as part of the training for new and prospective com-
manders at all levels of command required by section 
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585(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fis-
cal Year 2012 (Public Law 112–81; 10 U.S.C. 1561 note). 
SEC. 536. VICTIMS’ COUNSEL FOR VICTIMS OF SEX-RE-
LATED 
OFFENSES 
AND 
RELATED 
PROVI-
SIONS. 
(a) DESIGNATION AND DUTIES.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Chapter 53 of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting after 
section 1044d the following new section: 
‘‘§ 1044e. Victims’ Counsel for victims of sex-related 
offenses 
‘‘(a) DESIGNATION; PURPOSES.—The Secretary con-
cerned shall designate legal counsel (to be known as ‘Vic-
tims’ Counsel’) for the purpose of providing legal assist-
ance to an individual eligible for military legal assistance 
under section 1044 of this title who is the victim of an 
alleged sex-related offense, regardless of whether the re-
port of that offense is restricted or unrestricted. 
‘‘(b) TYPES OF LEGAL ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED.— 
The types of legal assistance authorized by subsection (a) 
include the following: 
‘‘(1) Legal consultation regarding potential 
criminal liability of the victim stemming from or in 
relation to the circumstances surrounding the al-
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leged sex-related offense and the victim’s right to 
seek military defense services. 
‘‘(2) Legal consultation regarding the Victim 
Witness Assistance Program, including— 
‘‘(A) the rights and benefits afforded the 
victim; 
‘‘(B) the role of the Victim Witness Assist-
ance Program liaison and what privileges do or 
do not exist between the victim and the liaison; 
and 
‘‘(C) the nature of communication made to 
the liaison in comparison to communication 
made to a Victims’ Counsel or a legal assistance 
attorney under section 1044 of this title. 
‘‘(3) Legal consultation regarding the respon-
sibilities and support provided to the victim by the 
Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, a unit or in-
stallation Sexual Assault Victim Advocate or domes-
tic abuse advocate, to include any privileges that 
may exist regarding communications between those 
persons and the victim. 
‘‘(4) Legal consultation regarding the potential 
for civil litigation against other parties (other than 
the Department of Defense). 
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‘‘(5) Legal consultation regarding the military 
justice system, including— 
‘‘(A) the roles and responsibilities of the 
trial counsel, the defense counsel, and investiga-
tors; 
‘‘(B) any proceedings of the military jus-
tice process in which the victim may observe or 
participate as a witness or other party; 
‘‘(C) the Government’s authority to compel 
cooperation and testimony; and 
‘‘(D) the victim’s responsibility to testify, 
and other duties to the court. 
‘‘(6) Accompanying the victim at any pro-
ceedings in connection with the reporting, military 
investigation, and military prosecution of the alleged 
sex-related offense. 
‘‘(7) Legal consultation regarding— 
‘‘(A) services available from appropriate 
agencies or offices for emotional and mental 
health counseling and other medical services; 
‘‘(B) eligibility for and requirements for 
obtaining any available military and veteran 
benefits, such as transitional compensation ben-
efits found in section 1059 of this title and 
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other State and Federal victims’ compensation 
programs; and 
‘‘(C) the availability of, and any protec-
tions offered by, civilian and military restrain-
ing orders. 
‘‘(8) Legal consultation and assistance in per-
sonal civil legal matters in accordance with section 
1044 of this title. 
‘‘(9) Such other legal assistance as the Sec-
retary of Defense (or, in the case of the Coast 
Guard, the Secretary of the Department in which 
the Coast Guard is operating) may authorize in the 
regulations prescribed under subsection (g). 
‘‘(c) QUALIFICATIONS.—An individual may not be 
designated as a Victims’ Counsel under this section unless 
the individual— 
‘‘(1) meets the qualifications specified in section 
1044(d)(2) of this title; and 
‘‘(2) is certified as competent to be designated 
as a Victims’ Counsel by the Judge Advocate Gen-
eral of the Armed Force in which the judge advocate 
is a member or by which the civilian attorney is em-
ployed. 
‘‘(d) ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITY.—(1) Con-
sistent with the regulations prescribed under subsection 
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(g), the Judge Advocate General (as defined in section 
801(1) of this title) under the jurisdiction of the Sec-
retary, and within the Marine Corps the Staff Judge Ad-
vocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, is respon-
sible for the establishment and supervision of individuals 
designated as Victims’ Counsel. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary of Defense (and, in the case of 
the Coast Guard, the Secretary of the Department in 
which the Coast Guard is operating) shall conduct a peri-
odic evaluation of the Victims’ Counsel programs operated 
under this section. 
‘‘(e) AVAILABILITY OF VICTIMS’ COUNSEL.—(1) An 
individual eligible for military legal assistance under sec-
tion 1044 of this title who is the victim of an alleged sex- 
related offense shall be offered the option of receiving as-
sistance from a Victims’ Counsel upon report of an alleged 
sex-related offense or at the time the victim seeks assist-
ance from a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, a Sex-
ual Assault Victim Advocate, a military criminal investi-
gator, a victim/witness liaison, a trial counsel, a healthcare 
provider, or any other personnel designated by the Sec-
retary concerned for purposes of this subsection. 
‘‘(2) The assistance of a Victims’ Counsel under this 
subsection shall be available to an individual eligible for 
military legal assistance under section 1044 of this title 
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regardless of whether the individual elects unrestricted or 
restricted reporting of the alleged sex-related offense. The 
individual shall also be informed that the assistance of a 
Victims’ Counsel may be declined, in whole or in part, but 
that declining such assistance does not preclude the indi-
vidual from subsequently requesting the assistance of a 
Victims’ Counsel. 
‘‘(f) ALLEGED SEX-RELATED OFFENSE DEFINED.— 
In this section, the term ‘alleged sex-related offense’ 
means any allegation of— 
‘‘(1) a violation of section 920, 920a, 920b, 
920c, or 925 of ths title (article 120, 120a, 120b, 
120c, or 125 of the Uniform Code of Military Jus-
tice); or 
‘‘(2) an attempt to commit an offense specified 
in a paragraph (1) as punishable under section 880 
of this title (article 80 of the Uniform Code of Mili-
tary Justice). 
‘‘(g) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary of Defense and 
the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard 
is operating shall prescribe regulations to carry out this 
section.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended 
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by inserting after the item relating to section 1044d 
the following new item: 
‘‘1044e. Victims’ Counsel for victims of sex-related offenses.’’. 
(3) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(A) QUALIFICATIONS
OF
PERSONS
PRO-
VIDING
LEGAL
ASSISTANCE.—Section 
1044(d)(2) of such title is amended by inserting 
before the period at the end the following: 
‘‘and, for purposes of service as a Victims’ 
Counsel under section 1044e of this title, meets 
the additional qualifications specified in sub-
section (c)(2) of such section.’’. 
(B) INCLUSION IN DEFINITION OF MILI-
TARY
LEGAL
ASSISTANCE.—Section 
1044(d)(3)(B) of such title is amended by strik-
ing ‘‘and 1044d’’ and inserting ‘‘1044d, 1044e, 
and 1565b(a)(1)(A)’’. 
(C) ACCESS TO LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND 
SERVICES.—Section 1565b(a)(1)(A) of such 
title is amended by striking ‘‘section 1044’’ and 
inserting ‘‘sections 1044 and 1044e’’. 
(4) IMPLEMENTATION.—Section 1044e of title 
10, United States Code, as added by paragraph (1), 
shall be implemented within six months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act. 
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(b) ENHANCED TRAINING REQUIREMENT.—The Sec-
retary of each military department, and the Secretary of 
Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when 
it is not operating as a service in the Department of the 
Navy, shall implement, consistent with the guidelines pro-
vided under section 1044e of title 10, United States Code, 
as added by subsection (a), in-depth and advanced train-
ing for all military and civilian attorneys providing legal 
assistance under section 1044 or 1044e of such to support 
victims of alleged sex-related offenses. 
(c) SECRETARY OF DEFENSE IMPLEMENTATION RE-
PORT.— 
(1) REPORT
REQUIRED.—Not later than 90 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security with respect to the 
Coast Guard, shall submit to the Committees on 
Armed Services and Commerce, Science, and Trans-
portation of the Senate and the Committees on 
Armed Services and Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture of the House of Representatives a report de-
scribing how the Armed Forces will implement the 
requirements of section 1044e of title 10, United 
States Code, as added by subsection (a). 
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(2) ADDITIONAL SUBMISSION REQUIREMENT.— 
The report required by paragraph (1) shall also be 
submitted to the independent review panel estab-
lished by the Secretary of Defense under section 
576(a)(1) of the National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2013 (Public Law 112–239; 126 
Stat. 1758) and to the Joint Services Committee on 
Military Justice. 
(c) ADDITIONAL DUTIES FOR INDEPENDENT PAN-
ELS.— 
(1) RESPONSE
SYSTEMS
PANEL.—The inde-
pendent panel established by the Secretary of De-
fense under subsection (a)(1) of section 576 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2013 (Public Law 112–239; 126 Stat. 1758) shall 
conduct an assessment regarding whether the roles, 
responsibilities, and authorities of Victims’ Counsel 
to provide legal assistance under section 1044e of 
title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection 
(a), to victims of alleged sex-related offenses should 
be expanded to include legal standing to represent 
the victim during investigative and military justice 
proceedings in connection with the prosecution of 
the offense. The panel shall include the results of 
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the assessment in the report required by subsection 
(c)(1) of such section. 
(2) JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS PANEL.—The inde-
pendent panel established by the Secretary of De-
fense under subsection (a)(2) of section 576 of the 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2013 (Public Law 112–239; 126 Stat. 1758) shall 
conduct an assessment of the implementation and 
effect of section 1044e of title 10, United States 
Code, as added by subsection (a), and make such 
recommendations for modification of such section 
1044e as the panel considers appropriate. The panel 
shall include the results of the assessment and its 
recommendations in one of the reports required by 
subsection (c)(2)(B) of such section 576. 
SEC. 537. INSPECTOR GENERAL INVESTIGATION OF ALLE-
GATIONS OF RETALIATORY PERSONNEL AC-
TIONS TAKEN IN RESPONSE TO MAKING PRO-
TECTED COMMUNICATIONS REGARDING SEX-
UAL ASSAULT. 
Section 1034(c)(2)(A) of title 10, United States 
Code, is amended by striking ‘‘sexual harassment or’’ and 
inserting ‘‘rape, sexual assault, or other sexual misconduct 
in violation of sections 920 through 920c of this title (arti-
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cles 120 through 120c of the Uniform Code of Military 
Justice), sexual harassment, or’’. 
SEC. 538. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE REPORT ON ROLE OF 
COMMANDERS IN MILITARY JUSTICE PROC-
ESS. 
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit 
to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and 
the House of Representatives a report containing— 
(1) an assessment of the current role and au-
thorities of commanders in the administration of 
military justice and the investigation, prosecution, 
and adjudication of offenses under the Uniform 
Code of Military Justice; and 
(2) a recommendation by the Secretary of De-
fense regarding whether the role and authorities of 
commanders should be further modified or repealed. 
SEC. 539. REVIEW AND POLICY REGARDING DEPARTMENT 
OF DEFENSE INVESTIGATIVE PRACTICES IN 
RESPONSE 
TO 
ALLEGATIONS 
OF 
SEX-RE-
LATED OFFENSES. 
(a) REVIEW.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense 
shall conduct a review of the practices of the military 
criminal investigative organizations (Army Criminal Inves-
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tigation Command, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, 
and Air Force Office of Special Investigation) regarding 
the investigation of alleged sex-related offenses involving 
members of the Armed Forces, including the extent to 
which the military criminal investigative organizations 
make a recommendation regarding whether an allegation 
of a sex-related offense appears founded or unfounded. 
(b) POLICY.—After conducting the review required by 
subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall develop a 
uniform policy for the Armed Forces, to the extent prac-
ticable, regarding the use of case determinations to record 
the results of the investigation of a sex-related offense. 
In developing the policy, the Secretary shall consider the 
feasibility of adopting case determination methods, such 
as the uniform crime report, used by nonmilitary law en-
forcement agencies. 
(c) SEX-RELATED OFFENSE DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘sex-related offense’’ includes— 
(1) any offense covered by section 920, 920a, 
920b, 920c, or 925 of title 10, United States Code 
(article 120, 120a, 120b, 120c, or 125 of the Uni-
form Code of Military Justice); or 
(2) an attempt to commit an offense specified 
in a paragraph (1) as punishable under section 880 
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