US Congress Senate Bill 538 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4)
Status: Introduced on March 12 2013 - 25% progression, died in chamber
Action: 2013-06-04 - Committee on Armed Services. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 113-320.
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

Amends the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) to require a convening authority (the official acting on the sentence of a court-martial), when taking any action other than approving a sentence, to prepare a written justification of such action which shall be made part of the record of the court-martial. Prohibits a convening authority (or person acting in such capacity) from: (1) dismissing or setting aside a finding of guilty, or (2) reducing a finding of guilty to a finding of guilty to a lesser included offense. Repeals an inconsistent UCMJ provision.

A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to modify the authorities and responsibilities of convening authorities in taking actions on the findings and sentences of courts-martial.

Sen. Claire McCaskill [D-MO]

Sen. Tim Kaine [D-VA]

Sen. Amy Klobuchar [D-MN]

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen [D-NH]

Date	Chamber	Action
2013-06-04	Senate	Committee on Armed Services. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 113-320.
2013-03-12	Senate	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. (consideration: CR S5461)

HB2016 (Related) 2013-06-20 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
SB967 (Related) 2013-06-04 - Committee on Armed Services. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 113-320.

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/538/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/113/bills/s538/BILLS-113s538is.pdf