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47 of such title is amended by striking the item re-
lating to section 856 and inserting the following 
new item: 
‘‘856. Art 56. Maximum and minimum limits.’’. 
(b) JURISDICTION LIMITED TO GENERAL COURTS-MAR-
TIAL.—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) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this 
section shall take effect 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, and apply to offenses specified in section 
856(b)(2) of title 10, United States Code (article 56(b)(2) of 
the Uniform Code of Military Justice), as added by sub-
section (a)(1), committed on or after that date.
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SEC. 1706. PARTICIPATION BY VICTIM IN CLEMENCY PHASE OF 
COURTS-MARTIAL PROCESS. 
(a) VICTIM SUBMISSION OF MATTERS FOR CONSIDER-
ATION BY CONVENING AUTHORITY.—Section 860 of title 10, 
United States Code (article 60 of the Uniform Code of Mili-
tary Justice), as amended by section 1702, is further amend-
ed— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as sub-
sections (e) and (f), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following 
new subsection: 
‘‘(d)(1) In any case in which findings and sentence have 
been adjudged for an offense that involved a victim, the vic-
tim shall be provided an opportunity to submit matters for 
consideration by the convening authority or by another per-
son authorized to act under this section before the convening 
authority or such other person takes action under this sec-
tion. 
‘‘(2)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the 
submission of matters under paragraph (1) shall be made 
within 10 days after the later of— 
‘‘(i) the date on which the victim has been given an 
authenticated record of trial in accordance with section 
854(e) of this title (article 54(e)); and
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•HRES 441 EH 
‘‘(ii) if applicable, the date on which the victim has 
been given the recommendation of the staff judge advo-
cate or legal officer under subsection (e). 
‘‘(B) In the case of a summary court-martial, the sub-
mission of matters under paragraph (1) shall be made within 
seven days after the date on which the sentence is announced. 
‘‘(3) If a victim shows that additional time is required 
for submission of matters under paragraph (1), the convening 
authority or other person taking action under this section, for 
good cause, may extend the submission period under para-
graph (2) for not more than an additional 20 days. 
‘‘(4) A victim may waive the right under this subsection 
to make a submission to the convening authority or other 
person taking action under this section. Such a waiver shall 
be made in writing and may not be revoked. For the purposes 
of subsection (c)(2), the time within which a victim may 
make a submission under this subsection shall be deemed to 
have expired upon the submission of such waiver to the con-
vening authority or such other person. 
‘‘(5) In this section, the term ‘victim’ means a person 
who has suffered a direct physical, emotional, or pecuniary 
loss as a result of a commission of an offense under this 
chapter (the Uniform Code of Military Justice) and on which 
the convening authority or other person authorized to take 
action under this section is taking action under this section.’’.
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(b) LIMITATIONS
ON
CONSIDERATION
OF
VICTIM’S 
CHARACTER.—Subsection (b) of section 860 of title 10, 
United States Code (article 60 of the Uniform Code of Mili-
tary Justice), is amended by adding at the end the following 
new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) The convening authority or other person taking ac-
tion under this section shall not consider under this section 
any submitted matters that relate to the character of a victim 
unless such matters were presented as evidence at trial and 
not excluded at trial.’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Subsection (b)(1) of 
section 860 of title 10, United States Code (article 60 of the 
Uniform Code of Military Justice), is amended by striking 
‘‘subsection (d)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (e)’’. 
SEC. 1707. REPEAL OF THE OFFENSE OF CONSENSUAL SODOMY 
UNDER THE UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUS-
TICE. 
(a) RESTATEMENT OF ARTICLE 125 WITH CONSENSUAL 
SODOMY OMITTED.—Section 925 of title 10, United States 
Code (article 125 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘§ 925. Art 125. Forcible sodomy; bestiality 
‘‘(a) FORCIBLE SODOMY.—Any person subject to this 
chapter who engages in unnatural carnal copulation with an-
other person of the same or opposite sex by force or without
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the consent of the other person is guilty of forcible sodomy 
and shall be punished as a court-martial may direct. 
‘‘(b) BESTIALITY.—Any person subject to this chapter 
who engages in unnatural carnal copulation with an animal 
is guilty of bestiality and shall be punished as a court-martial 
may direct. 
‘‘(c) SCOPE OF OFFENSES.—Penetration, however slight, 
is sufficient to complete an offense under subsection (a) or 
(b).’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at 
the beginning of subchapter X of chapter 47 of title 10, 
United States Code (the Uniform Code of Military Justice), 
is amended by striking the item relating to section 925 (arti-
cle 125) and inserting the following new item: 
‘‘925. Art 125. Forcible sodomy; bestiality.’’. 
SEC. 1708. MODIFICATION OF MANUAL FOR COURTS-MARTIAL 
TO ELIMINATE FACTOR RELATING TO CHARACTER 
AND MILITARY SERVICE OF THE ACCUSED IN 
RULE ON INITIAL DISPOSITION OF OFFENSES. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the discussion pertaining to Rule 306 of the Man-
ual for Courts-Martial (relating to policy on initial disposition 
of offenses) shall be amended to strike the character and 
military service of the accused from the matters a com-
mander should consider in deciding how to dispose of an of-
fense.
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SEC. 1709. PROHIBITION OF RETALIATION AGAINST MEMBERS 
OF THE ARMED FORCES FOR REPORTING A CRIMI-
NAL OFFENSE. 
(a) REGULATIONS ON PROHIBITION OF RETALIATION.— 
(1) REGULATIONS
REQUIRED.—The Secretary of 
Defense shall prescribe regulations, or require the Secre-
taries of the military departments to prescribe regula-
tions, that prohibit retaliation against an alleged victim 
or other member of the Armed Forces who reports a 
criminal offense. The regulations shall prescribe that a 
violation of the regulations is an offense punishable 
under section 892 of title 10, United States Code (arti-
cle 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice). 
(2) DEADLINE.—The regulations required by this 
subsection shall be prescribed not later than 120 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(b) 
RETALIATION
AND
PERSONNEL
ACTION
DE-
SCRIBED.— 
(1) RETALIATION.—For purposes of the regulations 
required by subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense 
shall define retaliation to include, at a minimum— 
(A) taking or threatening to take an adverse 
personnel action, or withholding or threatening to 
withhold a favorable personnel action, with respect 
to a member of the Armed Forces because the 
member reported a criminal offense; and
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•HRES 441 EH 
(B) ostracism and such of acts of maltreat-
ment, as designated by the Secretary of Defense, 
committed by peers of a member of the Armed 
Forces or by other persons because the member re-
ported a criminal offense. 
(2) PERSONNEL ACTIONS.—For purposes of para-
graph (1)(A), the Secretary of Defense shall define the 
personnel actions to be covered by the regulations. 
(c) REPORT
ON SEPARATE PUNITIVE ARTICLE.—Not 
later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees 
on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Rep-
resentatives a report setting forth the recommendations of 
the Secretary regarding whether chapter 47 of title 10, 
United States Code (the Uniform Code of Military Justice), 
should be amended to add a new punitive article to sub-
chapter X of such chapter to prohibit retaliation against an 
alleged victim or other member of the Armed Forces who re-
ports a criminal offense. 
Subtitle B—Other Amendments to 
Title 10, United States Code 
SEC. 1711. PROHIBITION ON SERVICE IN THE ARMED FORCES 
BY INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF 
CERTAIN SEXUAL OFFENSES. 
(a) PROHIBITION.—
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 37 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended adding at the end the following 
new section: 
‘‘§ 657. Prohibition on service in the armed forces by in-
dividuals convicted of certain sexual offenses 
‘‘(a) PROHIBITION
ON
COMMISSIONING
OR
ENLIST-
MENT.—A person who has been convicted of an offense speci-
fied in subsection (b) under Federal or State law may not be 
processed for commissioning or permitted to enlist in the 
armed forces. 
‘‘(b) COVERED OFFENSES.—An offense specified in this 
subsection is any felony offense as follows: 
‘‘(1) Rape or sexual assault. 
‘‘(2) Forcible sodomy. 
‘‘(3) Incest. 
‘‘(4) An attempt to commit an offense specified in 
paragraph (1) through (3), as punishable under applica-
ble Federal or State law.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of chapter 37 of such title is amended 
by adding at the end the following new item: 
‘‘657. Prohibition on service in the armed forces by individuals convicted of cer-
tain sexual offenses.’’. 
(b) REPEAL
OF SUPERSEDED PROHIBITION.—Section 
523 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
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Year 2013 (Public Law 112–239; 126 Stat. 1723; 10 U.S.C. 
504 note) is repealed. 
SEC. 1712. ISSUANCE OF REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO THE 
COAST GUARD REGARDING CONSIDERATION OF 
REQUEST FOR PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION 
OR UNIT TRANSFER BY VICTIM OF SEXUAL AS-
SAULT. 
Section 673(b) of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘The Secretaries of the military depart-
ments’’ and inserting ‘‘The Secretary concerned’’. 
SEC. 1713. TEMPORARY ADMINISTRATIVE REASSIGNMENT OR 
REMOVAL OF A MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES 
ON ACTIVE DUTY WHO IS ACCUSED OF COMMIT-
TING A SEXUAL ASSAULT OR RELATED 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 accused of 
committing a sexual assault or related of-
fense 
‘‘(a) GUIDANCE FOR TIMELY CONSIDERATION AND AC-
TION.—The Secretary concerned may provide guidance, with-
in guidelines provided by the Secretary of Defense, for com-
manders regarding their authority to make a timely deter-
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•HRES 441 EH 
mination, and to take action, regarding whether a member of 
the armed forces serving on active duty who is alleged to have 
committed an offense under section 920, 920a, 920b, 920c, 
or 925 of this title (article 120, 120a, 120b, 120c, or 125 
of the Uniform Code of Military Justice) or an attempt to 
commit such an offense as punishable under section 880 of 
this title (article 80 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice) 
should be temporarily reassigned or removed from a position 
of authority or from an assignment, not as a punitive meas-
ure, but solely for the purpose of maintaining good order and 
discipline within the member’s unit. 
‘‘(b) TIME FOR DETERMINATION.—A determination de-
scribed in subsection (a) may be made at any time afer re-
ceipt of notification of an unrestricted report of a sexual as-
sault or other sex-related offense that identifies the member 
as an alleged perpetrator.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at 
the beginning of chapter 39 of such title is amended by in-
serting 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 the 
inclusion of information and discussion regarding the avail-
ability and use of the authority described by section 674 of
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•HRES 441 EH 
title 10, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), as 
part of the training for new and prospective commanders at 
all levels of command required by section 585(b) of the Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (Pub-
lic Law 112–81; 10 U.S.C. 1561 note). 
SEC. 1714. EXPANSION AND ENHANCEMENT OF AUTHORITIES 
RELATING TO PROTECTED COMMUNICATIONS OF 
MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND PROHIB-
ITED RETALIATORY ACTIONS. 
(a) EXPANSION
OF PROHIBITED RETALIATORY PER-
SONNEL ACTIONS.—Subsection (b) of section 1034 of title 
10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘preparing—’’ and inserting 
‘‘preparing or being perceived as making or pre-
paring—’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘or’’ at 
the end; 
(C) in subparagraph (B)— 
(i) in clause (iv), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the 
end; 
(ii) by redesignating clause (v) as clause 
(vi) and, in such clause, by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and
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•HRES 441 EH 
(iii) by inserting after clause (iv) the fol-
lowing new clause (v): 
‘‘(v) a court-martial proceeding; or’’; and 
(D) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(C) testimony, or otherwise participating in or as-
sisting in an investigation or proceeding related to a 
communication under subparagraph (A) or (B), or filing, 
causing to be filed, participating in, or otherwise assist-
ing in an action brought under this section.’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ after ‘‘unfavorable ac-
tion’’ and inserting a comma; and 
(B) by inserting after ‘‘any favorable action’’ 
the following: ‘‘, or making or threatening to make 
a significant change in the duties or responsibilities 
of a member of the armed forces not commensurate 
with the member’s grade’’. 
(b) INSPECTOR GENERAL INVESTIGATIONS OF ALLEGA-
TIONS.—Subsection (c) of section 1034 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘paragraph (3)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘paragraph (4)’’; 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), and (5) as 
paragraphs (4), (5), and (6), respectively;
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•HRES 441 EH 
(3) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following 
new paragraph (3): 
‘‘(3) A communication described in paragraph (2) shall 
not be excluded from the protections provided in this section 
because— 
‘‘(A) the communication was made to a person who 
participated in an activity that the member reasonably 
believed to be covered by paragraph (2); 
‘‘(B) the communication revealed information that 
had previously been disclosed; 
‘‘(C) of the member’s motive for making the com-
munication; 
‘‘(D) the communication was not made in writing; 
‘‘(E) the communication was made while the mem-
ber was off duty; and 
‘‘(F) the communication was made during the nor-
mal course of duties of the member.’’; 
(4) in paragraph (5), as redesignated by paragraph 
(2) of this subsection— 
(A) by striking ‘‘paragraph (3)(A)’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘paragraph (4)(A)’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘paragraph (3)(D)’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘paragraph (4)(D)’’; and 
(C) by striking ‘‘60 days’’ and inserting ‘‘one 
year’’; and
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•HRES 441 EH 
(5) in paragraph (6), as redesignated by paragraph 
(2) of this subsection, by striking ‘‘outside the imme-
diate chain of command of both the member submitting 
the allegation and the individual or individuals alleged to 
have taken the retaliatory action.’’ and inserting the fol-
lowing: ‘‘one or both of the following: 
‘‘(A) Outside the immediate chain of command of 
both the member submitting the allegation and the indi-
vidual or individuals alleged to have taken the retaliatory 
action. 
‘‘(B) At least one organization higher in the chain 
of command than the organization of the member sub-
mitting the allegation and the individual or individuals 
alleged to have taken the retaliatory action.’’. 
(c) INSPECTOR GENERAL INVESTIGATIONS OF UNDER-
LYING ALLEGATIONS.—Subsection (d) of section 1034 of title 
10, United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘subpara-
graph (A) or (B) of subsection (c)(2)’’ and inserting ‘‘sub-
paragraph (A), (B), or (C) of subsection (c)(2)’’. 
(d) REPORTS ON INVESTIGATIONS.—Subsection (e) of 
section 1034 of title 10, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘subsection (c)(3)(E)’’ both 
places 
it 
appears 
and 
inserting 
‘‘subsection 
(c)(4)(E)’’;
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•HRES 441 EH 
(B) by inserting ‘‘and the Secretary of the 
military department concerned’’ after ‘‘the Sec-
retary of Defense’’; and 
(C) by striking ‘‘transmitted to the Secretary’’ 
and inserting ‘‘transmitted to such Secretaries’’; 
and 
(2) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘and the Sec-
retary of the military department concerned’’ after ‘‘the 
Secretary of Defense’’. 
(e) ACTION IN CASE OF VIOLATIONS.—Section 1034 of 
title 10, United States Code, is further amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (f), (g), (h), and (i) 
as subsections (g), (h), (i), and (j), respectively; and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (e) the following 
new subsection (f): 
‘‘(f) ACTION IN CASE OF VIOLATIONS.—(1) Not later 
than 30 days after receiving a report from the Inspector Gen-
eral under subsection (e), the Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity or the Secretary of the military department concerned, 
as applicable, shall determine whether there is sufficient basis 
to conclude whether a personnel action prohibited by sub-
section (b) has occurred. 
‘‘(2) If the Secretary concerned determines under para-
graph (1) that a personnel action prohibited by subsection (b) 
has occurred, the Secretary shall—
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•HRES 441 EH 
‘‘(A) order such action as is necessary to correct the 
record of a personnel action prohibited by subsection (b); 
and 
‘‘(B) take any appropriate disciplinary action 
against the individual who committed such prohibited 
personnel action. 
‘‘(3) If the Secretary concerned determines under para-
graph (1) that an order for corrective or disciplinary action 
is not appropriate, not later than 30 days after making the 
determination, such Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) provide to the Secretary of Defense and the 
member or former member a notice of the determination 
and the reasons for not taking action; and 
‘‘(B) when appropriate, refer the report to the ap-
propriate board for the correction of military records for 
further review under subsection (g).’’. 
(f) CORRECTION OF RECORDS.—Subsection (g) of sec-
tion 1034 of title 10, United States Code, as redesignated by 
subsection (e)(1) of this section, is amended in paragraph 
(3)— 
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 
striking ‘‘board elects to hold’’ and inserting ‘‘board 
holds’’; and
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•HRES 441 EH 
(2) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking ‘‘the case is 
unusually complex or otherwise requires’’ and inserting 
‘‘the member or former member would benefit from’’. 
SEC. 1715. INSPECTOR GENERAL INVESTIGATION OF ALLEGA-
TIONS OF RETALIATORY PERSONNEL ACTIONS 
TAKEN IN RESPONSE TO MAKING PROTECTED 
COMMUNICATIONS REGARDING SEXUAL 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 (articles 120 
through 120c of the Uniform Code of Military Justice), sex-
ual harassment, or’’. 
SEC. 1716. DESIGNATION AND AVAILABILITY OF SPECIAL VIC-
TIMS’ COUNSEL FOR VICTIMS OF SEX-RELATED 
OFFENSES. 
(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. Special Victims’ Counsel for victims of sex-re-
lated offenses 
‘‘(a) DESIGNATION; PURPOSES.—The Secretary con-
cerned shall designate legal counsel (to be known as ‘Special 
Victims’ Counsel’) for the purpose of providing legal assist-
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ance to an individual eligible for military legal assistance 
under section 1044 of this title who is the victim of an al-
leged sex-related offense, regardless of whether the report 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 alleged sex-related of-
fense and the victim’s right to seek military defense 
services. 
‘‘(2) Legal consultation regarding the Victim Wit-
ness Assistance Program, including— 
‘‘(A) the rights and benefits afforded the vic-
tim; 
‘‘(B) the role of the Victim Witness Assistance 
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 
Special Victims’ Counsel or a legal assistance attor-
ney under section 1044 of this title. 
‘‘(3) Legal consultation regarding the responsibil-
ities and support provided to the victim by the Sexual
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•HRES 441 EH 
Assault Response Coordinator, a unit or installation Sex-
ual Assault Victim Advocate, or domestic abuse advo-
cate, 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 De-
partment of Defense). 
‘‘(5) Legal consultation regarding the military jus-
tice system, including (but not limited to)— 
‘‘(A) the roles and responsibilities of the trial 
counsel, the defense counsel, and investigators; 
‘‘(B) any proceedings of the military justice 
process in which the victim may observe; 
‘‘(C) the Government’s authority to compel co-
operation and testimony; and 
‘‘(D) the victim’s responsibility to testify, and 
other duties to the court. 
‘‘(6) Accompanying the victim at any proceedings in 
connection with the reporting, military investigation, and 
military prosecution of the alleged sex-related offense. 
‘‘(7) Legal consultation regarding eligibility and re-
quirements for services available from appropriate agen-
cies or offices for emotional and mental health coun-
seling and other medical services; 
‘‘(8) Legal consultation and assistance—
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•HRES 441 EH 
‘‘(A) in personal civil legal matters in accord-
ance with section 1044 of this title; 
‘‘(B) in any proceedings of the military justice 
process in which a victim can participate as a wit-
ness or other party; 
‘‘(C) in understanding the availability of, and 
obtaining any protections offered by, civilian and 
military protecting or restraining orders; and 
‘‘(D) in understanding the eligibility and re-
quirements for, and obtaining, any available mili-
tary and veteran benefits, such as transitional com-
pensation benefits found in section 1059 of this title 
and other State and Federal victims’ compensation 
programs. 
‘‘(9) Such other legal assistance as the Secretary of 
Defense (or, in the case of the Coast Guard, the Sec-
retary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is 
operating) may authorize in the regulations prescribed 
under subsection (h). 
‘‘(c) NATURE OF RELATIONSHIP.—The relationship be-
tween a Special Victims’ Counsel and a victim in the provi-
sion of legal advice and assistance shall be the relationship 
between an attorney and client.
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‘‘(d) QUALIFICATIONS.—An individual may not be des-
ignated as a Special Victims’ Counsel under this section un-
less 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 Special 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 employed. 
‘‘(e) ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITY.—(1) Consistent 
with the regulations prescribed under subsection (h), the 
Judge Advocate General (as defined in section 801(1) of this 
title) under the jurisdiction of the Secretary, and within the 
Marine Corps the Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant 
of the Marine Corps, is responsible for the establishment and 
supervision of individuals designated as Special 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 periodic evaluation 
of the Special Victims’ Counsel programs operated under this 
section. 
‘‘(f) AVAILABILITY OF SPECIAL VICTIMS’ COUNSEL.— 
(1) An individual eligible for military legal assistance under 
section 1044 of this title who is the victim of an alleged sex-
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related offense shall be offered the option of receiving assist-
ance from a Special Victims’ Counsel upon report of an al-
leged sex-related offense or at the time the victim seeks as-
sistance from a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, a Sex-
ual Assault Victim Advocate, a military criminal investigator, 
a victim/witness liaison, a trial counsel, a healthcare provider, 
or any other personnel designated by the Secretary concerned 
for purposes of this subsection. 
‘‘(2) The assistance of a Special Victims’ Counsel under 
this subsection shall be available to an individual eligible for 
military legal assistance under section 1044 of this title re-
gardless of whether the individual elects unrestricted or re-
stricted reporting of the alleged sex-related offense. The indi-
vidual shall also be informed that the assistance of a Special 
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 Spe-
cial Victims’ Counsel. 
‘‘(g) 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 this title (article 120, 120a, 120b, 120c, or 
125 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice); or
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‘‘(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 Military Justice). 
‘‘(h) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary of Defense and the 
Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is op-
erating shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 1044d the following 
new item: 
‘‘1044e. Special Victims’ Counsel for victims of sex-related offenses.’’. 
(3) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(A) QUALIFICATIONS OF PERSONS PROVIDING 
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 Special Victims’ Counsel under section 1044e 
of this title, meets the additional qualifications 
specified in subsection (d)(2) of such section.’’. 
(B) INCLUSION IN DEFINITION OF MILITARY 
LEGAL
ASSISTANCE.—Section 1044(d)(3)(B) of 
such title is amended by striking ‘‘and 1044d’’ and 
inserting ‘‘1044d, 1044e, and 1565b(a)(1)(A)’’. 
(C) ACCESS TO LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND SERV-
ICES.—Section 1565b(a)(1)(A) of such title is
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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 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act. 
(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 provided 
under section 1044e of title 10, United States Code, as added 
by subsection (a), in-depth and advanced training for all mili-
tary and civilian attorneys providing legal assistance under 
section 1044 or 1044e of such title to support victims of al-
leged 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 Sec-
retary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of 
Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard, 
shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services and 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
and the Committees on Armed Services and Transpor-
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tation and Infrastructure of the House of Representa-
tives a report describing how the Armed Forces will im-
plement the requirements of section 1044e of title 10, 
United States Code, as added by subsection (a). 
(2) ADDITIONAL SUBMISSION REQUIREMENT.—The 
report required by paragraph (1) shall also be submitted 
to the independent review panel established by the Sec-
retary of Defense under section 576(a)(1) of the Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 
(Public Law 112–239; 126 Stat. 1758) and to the Joint 
Services Committee on Military Justice. 
Subtitle C—Amendments to Other 
Laws 
SEC. 1721. TRACKING OF COMPLIANCE OF COMMANDING OFFI-
CERS IN CONDUCTING ORGANIZATIONAL CLIMATE 
ASSESSMENTS FOR PURPOSES OF PREVENTING 
AND RESPONDING TO SEXUAL ASSAULTS. 
Section 572 of the National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2013 (Public Law 112–239; 126 Stat. 1753; 
10 U.S.C. 1561 note) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsection: 
‘‘(d) TRACKING OF ORGANIZATIONAL CLIMATE ASSESS-
MENT COMPLIANCE.—The Secretary of Defense shall direct 
the Secretaries of the military departments to verify and 
track the compliance of commanding officers in conducting
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incident of sexual assault involving a member of the 
Armed Forces’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The heading of such 
section is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 577. RETENTION OF CERTAIN FORMS IN CONNECTION 
WITH RESTRICTED REPORTS AND UNRESTRICTED 
REPORTS ON SEXUAL ASSAULT INVOLVING MEM-
BERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.’’. 
SEC. 1724. TIMELY ACCESS TO SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE CO-
ORDINATORS BY MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL 
GUARD AND RESERVES. 
Section 584(a) of the National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (Public Law 112–81; 125 Stat. 
1433; 10 U.S.C. 1561 note) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph 
(3); and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following 
new paragraph (2): 
‘‘(2) AVAILABILITY
FOR
RESERVE
COMPONENT 
MEMBERS.—The Secretary of the military department 
concerned shall ensure the timely access to a Sexual As-
sault Response Coordinator by any member of the Na-
tional Guard or Reserve who—
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fense under subsection (a)(1) of section 576 of the Na-
tional Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 
(Public Law 112–239; 126 Stat. 1758), known as the 
‘‘response systems panel’’, shall conduct the following: 
(A) An assessment of the impact, if any, that 
removing from the chain of command any disposi-
tion authority regarding charges preferred under 
chapter 47 of title 10, United States Code (the Uni-
form Code of Military Justice), would have on over-
all reporting and prosecution of sexual assault 
cases. 
(B) An assessment regarding whether the 
roles, responsibilities, and authorities of Special Vic-
tims’ Counsel to provide legal assistance under sec-
tion 1044e of title 10, United States Code, as added 
by section 1716, to victims of alleged sex-related of-
fenses 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. 
(C) An assessment of the feasibility and appro-
priateness of extending to victims of crimes covered 
by chapter 47 of title 10, United States Code (the 
Uniform Code of Military Justice), the right af-
forded a crime victim in civilian criminal legal pro-