Sec. 535. ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS TO SPECIAL VICTIMS’ COUNSEL PROGRAM

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## SEC. 535 ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS TO SPECIAL VICTIMS’ COUNSEL PROGRAM ###

(a)Training Time Period and Requirements Section 1044e(d) of title 10, United States Code, is amended— ####

(1)by inserting “(1)” before “An individual”; ####

(2)by designating existing paragraphs

(1)and

(2)as subparagraphs

(A)and (B), respectively; and ####

(3)by adding at the end the following new paragraph: > > #### “(2) > > The Secretary of Defense shall— > > > ##### “(A) > > develop a policy to standardize the time period within which a Special Victims’ Counsel receives training; and > > > ##### “(B) > > establish the baseline training requirements for a Special Victims’ Counsel.” > . ###

(b)Improved Administrative Responsibility Section 1044e(e) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: > > #### “(3) > > The Secretary of Defense, in collaboration with the Secretaries of the military departments and the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating, shall establish— > > > ##### “(A) > > guiding principles for the Special Victims’ Counsel program, to include ensuring that— > > > ###### “(i) > > Special Victims’ Counsel are assigned to locations that maximize the opportunity for face-to-face communication between counsel and clients; and > > > ###### “(ii) > > effective means of communication are available to permit counsel and client interactions when face-to-face communication is not feasible; > > > ##### “(B) > > performance measures and standards to measure the effectiveness of the Special Victims’ Counsel program and client satisfaction with the program; and > > > ##### “(C) > > processes by which the Secretaries of the military departments and the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating will evaluate and monitor the Special Victims’ Counsel program using such guiding principles and performance measures and standards.” > . ###

(c)Conforming Amendment Regarding Qualifications Section 1044(d)(2) of chapter 53 of title 10, United States Code is amended by striking “meets the additional qualifications specified in subsection (d)(2)” and inserting “satisfies the additional qualifications and training requirements specified in subsection (d)”.