Fair Military Act

Bill: 113-hr-4485
Sponsor: Rep. Turner, Michael R. [R-OH-10]
Introduced: 2014-04-10 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Crime prevention
Crime victims
Crimes against women
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Evidence and witnesses
Government studies and investigations
Health information and medical records
Higher education
Judicial procedure and administration
Mental health
Military command and structure
Military education and training
Military law
Military personnel and dependents
Performance measurement
Sex offenses

Summary:
action_date: 2014-04-10
text: 
Furthering Accountability and Individual Rights within the Military Act of 2014 or the Fair Military Act - Directs each Secretary of a military department to ensure that: (1) the written performance appraisals of each member of the Armed Forces include an assessment of the extent to which the member supports that Armed Force's sexual assault prevention and response program, and (2) the performance appraisals of each commanding officer indicate the extent to which such officer has established a command climate in which allegations of sexual assault are properly managed and fairly evaluated and in which a victim can report criminal activity without fear of retaliation.
 
Requires modification of the Military Rules of Evidence to clarify that the general military character of an accused is not admissible for the purpose of showing the probability of his or her innocence, except that an accused may offer evidence of a trait of his or her military character when that trait is relevant to an element of the offense for which he or she has been charged.
 
Directs the Secretaries of the military departments and any department in which the Coast Guard is operating to ensure that the provisions of Title XVII (Sexual Assault Prevention and Response and Related Reforms) of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY2014 and this Act apply to the United States Military Academy, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, and the Coast Guard Academy.
 
Requires the independent judicial proceedings panel to conduct assessments of: (1) the use of mental health records by the defense during preliminary hearing and court-martial proceedings, and (2) the use of such records in similar civilian proceedings to determine whether any significant discrepancies exist between the two legal systems.
 
Directs the Comptroller General (GAO) to submit to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees a report describing the status of the implementation of the sexual assault provisions contained in the NDAAs for FY2012, FY2013, and FY2014 and the sexual assault prevention initiatives announced in memoranda by the Secretary of Defense (DOD) on May 6, 2013, and August 14, 2013.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-07-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
action_date: 2014-04-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
action_date: 2014-04-10
text: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2014-04-10
text: Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2014-04-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2014-04-10
text: Introduced in House