Sec. 1242. Protection and legal preparedness for servicemembers abroad
353 words·~2 min read·
/bill/118/hr/2670/rds/section-1242·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall seek to ensure that members of the Armed Forces stationed in each foreign country with which the United States maintains a Status of Forces Agreement are afforded, at a minimum: the right to legal counsel for his or her defense, in accordance with the Status of Forces Agreement or other binding law or agreement with another country; access to competent language translation services; a prompt and speedy trial; the right to be confronted with the witnesses against him or her; and a compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his or her favor if they are within the foreign country’s jurisdiction.
Not later than December 31, 2024, the Secretary of Defense, in collaboration with the Secretary of State, shall— review the 10 largest foreign countries by United States Armed Forces presence and evaluate local legal systems, protections afforded by bilateral agreements between the United States and countries being evaluated, and how the rights and privileges afforded under such agreements may differ from United States law; and brief the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate on the findings of the review.
The Secretary of Defense shall review and improve as necessary training and educational materials for members of the Armed Forces, their spouses, and dependents, as appropriate, who are stationed in a country reviewed pursuant to subsection (b)(1) regarding relevant foreign laws, how such foreign laws may differ from the laws of the United States, and the rights of accused in common scenarios under such foreign laws. The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall review foreign language standards for servicemembers and employees of the Department of Defense and Department of State who are responsible for providing foreign language translation services in situations involving foreign law enforcement where a servicemember may be being detained, to ensure such persons maintain an appropriate proficiency in the legal terminology and meaning of essential terms in a relevant language.