,,ii  #aacth ,,congress  #ast ,session  
,s4 #ajcb  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of     
,,the ,,united ,,states  ,may #bc1 #bjac
 ,mrs4 ,mc,caskill 7for herself1 ,ms4   
,collins1 ,mrs4 ,shaheen1 ,mr4 ,blunt1  
and ,ms4 ,klobuchar7 introduced the     
following bill2 which was read twice and
 referred to the ,committee on ,armed   
,services  ,a ,,bill  ,to amend title   
#aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 to make     
certain improvements in the ,uniform    
,code of ,military ,justice related to  
sex-related offenses committed by       
members of the ,armed ,forces1 and for  
other purposes4  #a4 ,short title2 table
 of contents  7a7 ,short title ,this    
,act may be cited as the ,better        
,enforcement for ,sexual ,assault ,free 
,environments ,act of #bjac4  7b7 ,table
 of contents ,the table of contents of  
this ,act is as follows3  ,sec4 #a4     
,short title2 table of contents4 ,sec4  
#b4 ,limitations on convening authority 
discretion regarding court-martial      
findings and sentence4 ,sec4 #c4        

,participation by complaining witnesses 
in clemency phase of courts-martial     
process4 ,sec4 #d4 ,mandatory discharge 
or dismissal for certain sex-related    
offenses under the ,uniform ,code of    
,military ,justice and trial of such    
offenses by general courts-martial4     
,sec4 #e4 ,defense counsel interview of 
complaining witnesses in presence of    
trial counsel or outside counsel4 ,sec4 
#f4 ,elimination of five-year statute of
 limitations on trial by court-martial  
for additional offenses involving       
sex-related crimes4 ,sec4 #g4           
,consideration of need for1 and         
authority to provide for1 temporary     
administrative reassignment or removal  
of a member on active duty who is       
accused of committing a sexual assault  
or related offense4 ,sec4 #h4 ,briefings
 of commanding officers following       
unrestricted reports of sexual assault  
on members of the ,armed ,forces4 ,sec4 
#i4 ,victims' ,counsel for victims of   
sex-related offenses committed by       

members of the ,armed ,forces and       
related provisions4 ,sec4 #aj4          
,secretary of ,defense report on        
sentencing reform4 ,sec4 #aa4 ,secretary
 of ,defense report on role of          
commanders in military justice process4 
#b4 ,limitations on convening authority 
discretion regarding court-martial      
findings and sentence  7a7 ,elimination 
of unlimited command prerogative and    
discretion ,paragraph 7#a7 of section   
#hfj7;c7 of title #aj1 ,united ,states  
,code 7article #fj7;c7 of the ,uniform  
,code of ,military ,justice7 is amended 
by striking the first sentence4  7b7    
,limitations on discretion regarding    
court-,martial findings ,paragraph 7#c7 
of section #hfj7;c7 of title #aj1       
,united ,states ,code 7article #fj7;c7  
of the ,uniform ,code of ,military      
,justice7 is amended to read as follows3
  7#c7 7,a7 ,action on the findings of a
 court-martial by the convening         
authority or by another person          
authorized to act under this section is 

not required4  7,b7 ,if a convening     
authority or other person acts on the   
findings of a court-martial1 the        
convening authority or other person may 
not--  7i7 dismiss any charge or        
specification1 other than a charge or   
specification for a qualifying offense1 
by setting aside a finding of guilty    
thereto2 or  7ii7 change a finding of   
guilty to a charge or specification1    
other than a charge or specification for
 a qualifying offense1 to a finding of  
guilty to an offense that is a lesser   
included offense of the offense stated  
in the charge or specification4  7,c7   
,if a convening authority or other      
person acts on the findings to dismiss  
or change any charge or specification   
for a qualifying offense1 the convening 
authority or other person shall prepare 
a written explanation of such action4   
,such written explanation shall be      
immediately provided and made a part of 
the record of the court-martial at the  
time the action is taken and becomes    

effective4  7,d7 7i7 ,in this paragraph1
 the term qualifying offense means1     
except as provided in clause 7ii71 an   
offense under this chapter for which--  
7,i7 the maximum sentence of confinement
 that may be adjudged does not exceed   
two years2 and  7,,ii7 the sentence     
adjudged does not include dismissal1 a  
dishonorable or bad-conduct discharge1  
or confinement for more than six months4
  7ii7 ,such term does not include the  
following3  7,i7 ,an offense under      
section #ibj of this title 7article     
#abj74  7,,ii7 ,an offense under section
 #ibh of this title 7article #abh71 if  
such offense consisted of assault       
consummated by battery upon child under 
#af years of age4  7,,iii7 ,an offense  
under section #icd of this title        
7article #acd71 if such offense         
consisted of indecent language          
communicated to child under the age of  
#af years4  7,,iv7 ,such other offenses 
as the ,secretary of ,defense may       
prescribe by regulation4  4  7c7        

,limitations of discretion ,to modify an
 adjudged sentence to less than         
mandatory minimum sentence ,section     
#hfj7;c7 of title #aj1 ,united ,states  
,code 7article #fj7;c7 of the ,uniform  
,code of ,military ,justice7 is         
amended--  7#a7 in paragraph 7#b71 by   
striking ,the convening authority and   
inserting the following3  7,b7 ,except  
as provided in paragraph 7#d71 the      
convening authority  2 and  7#b7 by     
adding at the end the following new     
paragraph3  7#d7 ,if a mandatory minimum
 sentence exists for a charge1 the      
convening authority or another person   
authorized to act under this section may
 not modify an adjudged sentence to     
reduce the sentence to less than the    
mandatory minimum sentence1 except that1
 upon the recommendation of the trial   
counsel1 the convening authority or     
other person shall have the authority to
 impose a sentence below a level        
established by statute as a minimum     
sentence so as to reflect the           

substantial assistance by the accused in
 the investigation or prosecution of    
another person who has committed an     
offense4  4  7d7 ,explanation for any   
decision disapproving1 commuting1 or    
suspending court-,martial sentence      
,section #hfj7;c77#b7 of title #aj1     
,united ,states ,code 7article          
#fj7;c77#b7 of the ,uniform ,code of    
,military ,justice71 as amended by      
subsection 7c77#a71 is further amended--
  7#a7 by inserting 7,a7 after 7#b72 and
  7#b7 by adding at the end the         
following new subparagraph3  7,c7 ,if   
the convening authority or other person 
makes a decision to disapprove1 commute1
 or suspend the sentence in whole or in 
part1 the convening authority or such   
person shall prepare a detailed written 
explanation of such action4 ,such       
written explanation shall be immediately
 provided and made a part of the record 
of the court-martial at the time the    
action is taken and becomes effective4  
4  7e7 ,conforming amendment to other   

authority for convening authority ,to   
suspend sentence ,section #hga7;d7 of   
such title 7article #ga7;d7 of the      
,uniform ,code of ,military ,justice7 is
 amended by adding at the end the       
following new sentence3 ,paragraphs 7#b7
 and 7#d7 of subsection 7c7 of section  
#hfj of this title 7article #fj7 shall  
apply to any decision by the convening  
authority or such person to suspend the 
execution of any sentence or part       
thereof under this subsection44  7f7    
,effective date ,the amendments made by 
this section shall take effect #ahj days
 after the date of the enactment of this
 ,act and shall apply with respect to   
findings and sentences of courts-martial
 reported to convening authorities under
 section #hfj of title #aj1 ,united     
,states ,code 7article #fj of the       
,uniform ,code of ,military ,justice71  
as amended by this section1 on or after 
that effective date4  #c4 ,participation
 by complaining witnesses in clemency   
phase of courts-martial process ,section

 #hfj7;b7 of title #aj1 ,united ,states 
,code 7article #fj7;b7 of the ,uniform  
,code of ,military ,justice71 is amended
 by adding at the end the following new 
paragraphs3  7#e7 7,a7 ,if an accused   
elects to submit matters for            
consideration by the convening authority
 under this subsection1 a copy of any   
portion of such matters that refers to a
 complaining witness shall be provided  
to the complaining witness before the   
convening authority takes any action on 
the findings or sentence under this     
section4  7,b7 7i7 ,upon receipt of     
matters under this paragraph1 a         
complaining witness shall have #aj days 
to submit materials in response to such 
matters to the convening authority4     
7ii7 ,if a complaining witness shows    
that additional time is required for    
submission of materials under this      
subparagraph1 the convening authority or
 other person taking action under this  
section1 for good cause1 may extend the 
applicable period for submission of such

 materials for not more than an         
additional #bj days4  7#f7 ,in any case 
in which findings and sentence have been
 adjudged for an offense involving a    
complaining witness1 the complaining    
witness shall be provided an opportunity
 to submit matters to the convening     
authority for consideration prior to    
taking action under this section4  7#g7 
,the convening authority shall not      
consider under this section any         
submitted matters that go to the        
character of a complaining witness      
unless such matters were presented at   
the court-martial4  4  #d4 ,mandatory   
discharge or dismissal for certain      
sex-related offenses under the ,uniform 
,code of ,military ,justice and trial of
 such offenses by general courts-martial
  7a7 ,mandatory discharge or dismissal 
required  7#a7 ,imposition ,section #hef
 of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code    
7article #ef of the ,uniform ,code of   
,military ,justice7 is amended--  7,a7  
by inserting 7a7 before ,the punishment2

 and  7,b7 by adding at the end the     
following new subsection3  7b7 7#a7     
,while a person subject to this chapter 
who is found guilty of an offense       
specified in paragraph 7#b7 shall be    
punished as a general court-martial may 
direct1 such punishment must include1 at
 a minimum1 dismissal or dishonorable   
discharge4  7#b7 ,paragraph 7#a7 applies
 to the following offenses3  7,a7 ,an   
offense in violation of subsection 7a7  
or 7b7 of section #ibj 7article #abj7;a7
 or 7b774  7,b7 ,forcible sodomy under  
section #ibe of this title 7article     
#abe74  7,c7 ,an attempt to commit an   
offense specified in subparagraph 7,a7  
or 7,b7 that is punishable under section
 #hhj of this title 7article #hj74  4   
7#b7 ,clerical amendments  7,a7 ,section
 heading ,the heading of such section is
 amended to read as follows3  #hef4     
,art4 #ef4 ,maximum and minimum limits  
4  7,b7 ,table of sections ,the table of
 sections at the beginning of subchapter
 ,,viii of chapter #dg of such title is 

amended by striking the item relating to
 section #hef and inserting the         
following new item3  #hef4 ,art #ef4    
,maximum and minimum limits4  4  7b7    
,jurisdiction limited to general        
courts-,martial ,section #hah of such   
title 7article #ah of the ,uniform ,code
 of ,military ,justice7 is amended--    
7#a7 by inserting 7a7 before the first  
sentence2  7#b7 in the third sentence1  
by striking ,however1 a general         
court-martial and inserting the         
following3  7b7 ,a general court-martial
  2 and  7#c7 by adding at the end the  
following new subsection3  7c7          
,consistent with sections #hai1 #hbj1   
and #hef7;b7 of this title 7articles    
#ai1 #bj1 and #ef7;b771 only general    
courts-martial have jurisdiction over an
 offense specified in section           
#hef7;b77#b7 of this title 7article     
#ef7;b77#b774  4  7c7 ,effective date   
,the amendments made by this section    
shall take effect #ahj days after the   
date of the enactment of this ,act4  #e4

 ,defense counsel interview of          
complaining witnesses in presence of    
trial counsel or outside counsel        
,section #hdf of title #aj1 ,united     
,states ,code 7article #df of the       
,uniform ,code of ,military ,justice71  
is amended--  7#a7 by inserting 7a7     
,opportunity ,to obtain witnesses and   
other evidence4-- before ,the trial     
counsel2  7#b7 by striking ,process     
issued and inserting the following3  7c7
 ,process ,process issued  2 and  7#c7  
by inserting after subsection 7a71 as   
designated by paragraph 7#a71 the       
following new subsection 7b73  7b7      
,interview of complaining witnesses by  
defense counsel  7#a7 ,upon notice by   
trial counsel to defense counsel of the 
name and address of the complaining     
witness or witnesses trial counsel      
intends to call to testify in any       
portion of an investigation under       
section #hcb of this title 7article #cb7
 or a court-martial under this chapter1 
defense counsel shall make all requests 

to interview any such complaining       
witness through trial counsel4  7#b7 ,if
 requested by a complaining witness     
subject to a request for interview under
 paragraph 7#a71 any interview of the   
witness by defense counsel shall take   
place only in the presence of trial     
counsel1 counsel for the witness1 or    
outside counsel4  4  #f4 ,elimination of
 five-year statute of limitations on    
trial by court-martial for additional   
offenses involving sex-related crimes   
7a7 ,inclusion of additional offenses   
,section #hdc7;a7 of title #aj1 ,united 
,states ,code 7article #dc7;a7 of the   
,uniform ,code of ,military ,justice7 is
 amended by striking rape1 or rape of a 
child and inserting rape or sexual      
assault1 or rape or sexual assault of a 
child4  7b7 ,conforming amendment       
,section #hdc7;b77#b77;,b77i7 of title  
#aj1 ,united ,states ,code 7article     
#dc7;b77#b77;,b77i7 of the ,uniform     
,code of ,military ,justice7 is amended 
by inserting before the period at the   

end the following3 1 unless the offense 
is covered by subsection 7a74  7c7      
,effective date ,the amendments made by 
this section shall take effect on the   
date of the enactment of this ,act1 and 
shall apply with respect to an offense  
covered by section #ibj7;b7 or #ibj;b7b7
 of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code    
7article #abj7;b7 or #abj;b7b7 of the   
,uniform ,code of ,military ,justice7   
that is committed on or after that date4
  #g4 ,consideration of need for1 and   
authority to provide for1 temporary     
administrative reassignment or removal  
of a member on active duty who is       
accused of committing a sexual assault  
or related offense  7a7 ,in general     
,chapter #ci of title #aj1 ,united      
,states ,code1 is amended by inserting  
after section #fgc the following new    
section3  #fgd4 ,temporary              
administrative reassignment or removal  
of a member on active duty accused of   
committing a sexual assault or related  
offense  7a7 ,guidance for timely       

consideration and action ,the ,secretary
 concerned may provide guidance1 within 
guidelines provided by the ,secretary of
 ,defense1 for commanders regarding     
their authority to make a timely        
determination1 and to take action1      
regarding whether a member of the armed 
forces serving on active duty who is    
alleged to have committed a sexual      
assault or other sex-related offense    
covered by section #ibj1 #ibj;a1 #ibj;b1
 or #ibj;c of this title 7article #abj1 
#abj;a1 #abj;b1 or #abj;c of the        
,uniform ,code of ,military ,justice7   
should be temporarily reassigned or     
removed from a position of authority or 
assignment1 not as a punitive measure1  
but solely for the purpose of           
maintaining good order and discipline   
within the member's unit4  7b7 ,time for
 determinations ,a determination        
described in subsection 7a7 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 perpetrator4  4  7b7         
,clerical amendment ,the table of       
sections at the beginning of such       
chapter is amended by inserting after   
the item relating to section #fgc the   
following new item3  #fgd4 ,temporary   
administrative reassignment or removal  
of a member on active duty accused of   
committing a sexual assault or related  
offense4  4  7c7 ,additional training   
requirement for commanders ,the         
,secretary of ,defense shall provide for
 inclusion of information and discussion
 regarding the availability and use of  
the authority provided by section #fgd  
of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 as 
added by subsection 7a71 as part of the 
training for new and prospective        
commanders at all levels of command     
required by section #ehe7;b7 of the     
,national ,defense ,authorization ,act  
for ,fiscal ,year #bjab 7,public ,law   
#aab-ha2 #aj ,u4,s4,c4 #aefa note74  #h4
 ,briefings of commanding officers      

following unrestricted reports of sexual
 assault on members of the ,armed       
,forces  7a7 ,briefings required ,not   
later than eight days after a member of 
the ,armed ,forces files an unrestricted
 report on a sexual assault of such     
member1 the commanding officer of the   
member filing such report shall provide 
a briefing on such incident to the      
following3  7#a7 ,the first colonel1 or 
captain in the case of the ,navy1 in the
 chain of command of such member4  7#b7 
,the first general or flag officer in   
the chain of command of such member4    
7b7 ,elements  7#a7 ,in general ,a      
briefing on an incident under subsection
 7a7 shall include the following3  7,a7 
,information on the victim 7other than  
the name of the victim74  7,b7          
,information on the alleged offender    
7other than the name of the alleged     
offender74  7,c7 ,the details of the    
incident4  7,d7 ,any actions taken in   
connection with the incident1 including 
the following3  7i7 ,referral of the    

victim to any services available for    
members of the ,armed ,forces who are   
victims of sexual assault1 including the
 date of each such referral4  7ii7 ,any 
investigation of the incident1 including
 the date of any significant action in  
connection any such investigation4  7#b7
 ,modification ,the ,secretary of       
,defense may modify the elements        
required in a briefing under this       
section if the ,secretary determines    
that such modification will facilitate  
compliance of briefings under this      
section with best practices for such    
briefing as identified by the ,sexual   
,assault ,prevention and ,response      
,office of the ,department of ,defense4 
7c7 ,preparation ,the collection and    
assembly of any information required for
 a briefing under this section shall be 
conducted by a ,sexual ,assault         
,response ,coordinator4 ,information    
required for a briefing may not be      
collected or assembled through an       
investigation or interview of the victim

 by any commanding officer of the       
victim4  7d7 ,regulations ,the          
,secretary of ,defense shall prescribe  
regulations to carry out this section4  
#i4 ,victims' ,counsel for victims of   
sex-related offenses committed by       
members of the ,armed ,forces and       
related provisions  7a7 ,designation and
 duties  7#a7 ,in general ,chapter #ec  
of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 is 
amended by inserting after section      
#ajdd;d the following new section3      
#ajdd;e4 ,victims' ,counsel for victims 
of sex-related offenses committed by    
members of the armed forces  7a7        
,designation2 purposes ,under           
regulations prescribed by the ,secretary
 of ,defense1 the ,secretary concerned  
shall designate legal counsel 7to be    
known as ,victims' ,counsel7 for the    
purpose of providing legal assistance to
 any member of the armed forces1 any    
dependent of a member1 or any other     
individual eligible for military legal  
assistance under section #ajdd of this  

title1 who is the victim of a           
sex-related offense1 regardless of      
whether the allegation is restricted or 
unrestricted4  7b7 ,types of legal      
assistance ,the types of legal          
assistance contemplated by this         
subsection may include the following3   
7#a7 ,legal consultation regarding      
potential criminal liability of the     
victim stemming from or in relation to  
the circumstances surrounding the       
alleged sex-related offense and the     
victim's right to seek military defense 
services4  7#b7 ,legal consultation     
regarding the ,victim ,witness          
,assistance ,program 7,,vwap71          
including--  7,a7 the rights and        
benefits afforded the victim2  7,b7 the 
role of the ,victim_/,witness ,advocate 
or ,liaison and what privileges do or do
 not exist between the victim and the   
,advocate or ,liaison2 and  7,c7 the    
nature of communication made to the     
,victim_/,witness ,advocate or ,liaison 
as opposed to communication made to the 

,legal ,assistance ,attorney4  7#c7     
,legal consultation regarding the       
potential for civil litigation against  
other parties 7other than the           
,department of ,defense74  7#d7 ,legal  
consultation regarding any proceedings  
of the military justice process that the
 victim may observe4  7#e7 ,legal       
consultation regarding the military     
justice system1 including--  7,a7 the   
roles and responsibilities of the trial 
counsel1 the defense counsel1 and       
investigators2  7,b7 any proceedings of 
the military justice process in which   
the victim may observe or participate as
 a witness or other party2  7,c7 the    
,government's authority to compel       
cooperation and testimony2 and  7,d7 the
 victim's responsibility to testify1 and
 other duties to the court4  7#f7       
,accompanying the victim at any         
proceedings in connection with the      
reporting1 military investigation1 and  
military prosecution of the alleged     
sex-related offense4  7#g7 ,legal       

consultation regarding--  7,a7 services 
available from appropriate agencies or  
offices for emotional and mental health 
counseling and other medical services2  
7,b7 eligibility for and requirements   
for obtaining any available military and
 veteran benefits1 such as transitional 
compensation benefits found in section  
#ajei of this title and other ,state and
 ,federal victims' compensation         
programs2 and  7,c7 the availability of1
 and any protections offered by1        
civilian and military restraining       
orders4  7#h7 ,legal consultation and   
assistance in personal civil legal      
matters in accordance with section #ajdd
 of this title4  7#i7 ,such other legal 
assistance as the ,secretary concerned  
may specify under this subsection4  7c7 
,qualifications ,an individual may not  
be designated as a ,victims' ,counsel   
under this section unless the individual
 is--  7#a7 a judge advocate or a       
civilian attorney serving as a legal    
assistance attorney who is a graduate of

 an accredited law school and is a      
member of the bar of a ,federal court or
 of the highest court of a ,state2 and  
7#b7 is certified as competent to be    
designated as a ,victims' ,counsel by   
the ,judge ,advocate ,general of the    
,armed ,force of which the individual is
 a member4  7d7 ,administrative         
responsibility ,under such regulations  
as may be prescribed by the ,secretary  
concerned1 the ,judge ,advocate ,general
 7as defined in section #hja7a7 of this 
title7 under the jurisdiction of the    
,secretary1 and within the ,marine      
,corps the ,staff ,judge ,advocate to   
the ,commandant of the ,marine ,corps1  
is responsible for the establishment and
 supervision of individuals designated  
as ,victims' ,counsel4  7e7             
,sex-,related offense defined ,in this  
subsection1 a sex-related offense       
includes--  7#a7 any offense covered by 
section #ibj1 #ibj;a1 #ibj;b1 #ibj;c1 or
 #ibe 7article #abj1 #abj;a1 #abj;b1    
#abj;c1 or #abe of the ,uniform ,code of

 ,military ,justice72 or  7#b7 an       
attempt to commit an offense specified  
in a paragraph 7#a7 as punishable under 
section #hhj of this title 7article #hj 
of the ,uniform ,code of ,military      
,justice74  7f7 ,availability of        
victims' counsel ,a member of the armed 
forces1 or a dependent of a member1 or  
any other individual eligible for       
military legal assistance under section 
#ajdd of this title1 who is the victim  
of an alleged sex-related offense shall 
be provided assistance by a ,victims'   
,counsel upon report of an allegation of
 a sex-related offense or at the time   
the victim seeks assistance from a      
,sexual ,assault ,response ,coordinator1
 a ,sexual ,assault ,victim ,advocate1 a
 military criminal investigator1 a      
victim_/witness liaison1 a trial        
counsel1 a healthcare provider1 or any  
other personnel designated by the       
,secretary concerned for purposes of    
this subsection4 ,the assistance of a   
,victims' ,counsel under this subsection

 shall be available to a member or a    
dependent regardless of whether the     
member or dependent elects unrestricted 
or restricted reporting of the          
sex-related offense4 ,the member or     
dependent shall also be informed that   
the assistance of the ,victims' ,counsel
 is an option and may be declined1 in   
whole or in part1 at any time4  4  7#b7 
,clerical amendment ,the table of       
sections at the beginning of such       
chapter is amended by inserting after   
the item relating to section #ajdd;d the
 following new item3  #ajdd;e4 ,victims'
 ,counsel for victims of sexual         
assault-related offenses committed by   
members of the armed forces4  4  7#c7   
,conforming amendment ,section          
#ajdd7;d77#b77;,b7 of this title is     
amended by striking and #ajdd;d and     
inserting #ajdd;d1 and #ajdd;e4  7b7    
,enhanced ,training ,requirement ,the   
,secretary of each military department1 
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 ,navy1
 shall implement1 within the guidelines 
provided by the ,secretary of ,defense1 
in-depth and advanced training for all  
military and civilian attorneys assigned
 under section #ajdd or #ajdd;e of title
 #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 to provide 
legal assistance to victims of          
sex-related offenses4  7c7 ,secretary of
 ,defense reporting requirement  7#a7   
,report required ,not later than #ij    
days after the date of the enactment of 
this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,defense1  
in coordination with the ,secretary of  
,homeland ,security with respect to the 
,coast ,guard1 shall submit to the      
,committees on ,armed ,services of the  
,senate and the ,house of               
,representatives a report outlining how 
the ,armed ,forces have implemented the 
requirements of section #ajdd;e of title
 #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 as added by
 subsection 7a74  7#b7 ,additional      
submission requirement ,the report      

required by paragraph 7#a7 shall also be
 submitted to the ,independent ,review  
,panels established by section #egf of  
the ,national ,defense ,authorization   
,act for ,fiscal ,year #bjac 7,public   
,law #aab-bci2 #abf ,stat4 #ageh71 and  
the ,joint ,services ,committee on      
,military ,justice4  7d7 ,additional    
duties for independent review panel ,the
 ,independent ,review ,panel established
 by section #egf7;a77#a7 of the         
,national ,defense ,authorization ,act  
for ,fiscal ,year #bjac 7,public ,law   
#aab-bci2 #abf ,stat4 #ageh7 shall      
include as part of its duties the       
following3  7#a7 ,an assessment of the  
roles1 responsibilities1 and authorities
 of the ,victims' ,counsel to provide   
legal assistance to victims of          
sex-related offenses under section      
#ajdd;e of title #aj1 ,united ,states   
,code1 as added by subsection 7a74  7#b7
 ,an assessment of whether the roles1   
responsibilities1 and authorities of the
 ,victims' ,counsel to provide legal    

assistance to victims of sex-related    
offenses under such section should be   
expanded to include legal standing to   
represent the alleged victim during     
investigative and military justice      
proceedings in connection with the      
prosecution of a sex-related offense4   
#aj4 ,secretary of ,defense report on   
sentencing reform  7a7 ,reports required
 ,not later than #ahj days after the    
date of the enactment of this ,act1 the 
,secretary of ,defense shall submit to  
the ,committees on ,armed ,services of  
the ,senate and the ,house of           
,representatives a report on sentencing 
guidelines and mandatory minimum        
sentencing provisions under the ,uniform
 ,code of ,military ,justice4  7b7      
,contents of report ,the report required
 by subsection 7a7 shall include the    
following3  7#a7 ,an assessment of the  
effects of mandatory minimum sentencing 
provisions under the ,uniform ,code of  
,military ,justice on the goal of       
eliminating unwarranted sentencing      

disparity and other goals of sentencing4
  7#b7 ,an assessment of the penalties  
imposed by the current mandatory minimum
 sentences in relation to the offenses  
for which imposed under the ,uniform    
,code of ,military ,justice4  7#c7 ,a   
description of the interaction between  
mandatory minimum sentencing provisions 
under the ,uniform ,code of ,military   
,justice and plea agreements4  7#d7 ,an 
assessment of the appropriateness of    
statutorily mandated minimum sentencing 
provisions for additional serious       
offenses under the ,uniform ,code of    
,military ,justice4  7#e7 ,an assessment
 of the advisory sentencing guidelines  
used in civilian courts and whether it  
would be advisable to promulgate        
sentencing guidelines for use in        
courts-martial4  7#f7 ,any other        
information that the ,secretary of      
,defense determines would contribute to 
a thorough assessment of sentencing     
guidelines and mandatory minimum        
sentencing provisions under the ,uniform

 ,code of ,military ,law4  #aa4         
,secretary of ,defense report on role of
 commanders in military justice process 
,not later than #ahj days after the date
 of the enactment of this ,act1 the     
,secretary of ,defense shall submit to  
the ,committees on ,armed ,services of  
the ,senate and the ,house of           
,representatives a report containing an 
assessment of the current role of       
commanders in the administration of     
military justice and the investigation1 
prosecution1 and adjudication of        
offenses under the ,uniform ,code of    
,military ,justice4 ,specifically1 the  
,secretary of ,defense shall assess the 
post-trial authority of a commander     
under section #hfj of title #aj1 ,united
 ,states ,code 7article #fj of the      
,uniform ,code of ,military ,justice71  
as amended by section #b1 and include in
 the report a recommendation regarding  
whether this authority should be further
 modified or repealed4