Rachael Booth Act

1/18/2024, 5:57 AM

Rachel Booth Act

This bill expands eligibility for transitional compensation payments to dependents (or former dependents) of certain members of the Armed Forces who have committed a dependent-abuse offense.

Specifically, the bill provides eligibility for transitional compensation to dependents of members of the Armed Forces in situations where a member (1) has been convicted of a dependent-abuse offense in a civilian court but has been separated from duty for an offense other than the abuse offense; or (2) has been accused but not convicted of such an offense, but has been determined to have committed the offense by a commander and required to forfeit pay and allowances for an offense other than the abuse offense.

For purposes of determining a recipient of payments under such circumstances, an individual's status as a dependent child must be determined as of the first date on which an individual is held in pretrial confinement relating to the dependent-abuse offense or the date on which the commander determines there is probable cause the individual has committed the offense.

The bill prescribes when transitional compensation payments must commence based on the status of the conviction or confinement.

The military department concerned may delegate authority to authorize eligibility for benefits for dependents (and former dependents) to the first general or flag officer (or civilian equivalent) in the chain of command of the offending member.

Congress
118

Number
HR - 975

Introduced on
2023-02-10

# Amendments
0

Sponsors
+5

Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

2/10/2023

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

Rachel Booth Act

This bill expands eligibility for transitional compensation payments to dependents (or former dependents) of certain members of the Armed Forces who have committed a dependent-abuse offense.

Specifically, the bill provides eligibility for transitional compensation to dependents of members of the Armed Forces in situations where a member (1) has been convicted of a dependent-abuse offense in a civilian court but has been separated from duty for an offense other than the abuse offense; or (2) has been accused but not convicted of such an offense, but has been determined to have committed the offense by a commander and required to forfeit pay and allowances for an offense other than the abuse offense.

For purposes of determining a recipient of payments under such circumstances, an individual's status as a dependent child must be determined as of the first date on which an individual is held in pretrial confinement relating to the dependent-abuse offense or the date on which the commander determines there is probable cause the individual has committed the offense.

The bill prescribes when transitional compensation payments must commence based on the status of the conviction or confinement.

The military department concerned may delegate authority to authorize eligibility for benefits for dependents (and former dependents) to the first general or flag officer (or civilian equivalent) in the chain of command of the offending member.

Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedTo make transitional compensation available to dependents of members of the Armed Forces convicted of dependent abuse in Federal or State court and dependents of members accused of dependent abuse who have forfeited all pay and allowances for an unrelated offense.

Policy Areas
Armed Forces and National Security

Comments

Recent Activity

Latest Summary8/14/2023

Rachel Booth Act

This bill expands eligibility for transitional compensation payments to dependents (or former dependents) of certain members of the Armed Forces who have committed a dependent-abuse offense.

Specifically, the...


Latest Action2/10/2023
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.