NONLETHAL WEAPONS STUDY.

SEC. 219. NONLETHAL WEAPONS STUDY. (a) Findings.— Congress finds the following: (1) The role of the United States military in operations other than war has increased. (2) Weapons and instruments that are nonlethal in application yet immobilizing could have widespread operational utility and application. (3) The use of nonlethal weapons in operations other than war poses a number of important doctrine, legal, policy, and operations questions which should be addressed in a comprehensive and coordinated manner. (4) The development of nonlethal technologies continues to spread across military and agency budgets. (5) The Department of Defense should provide improved budgetary focus and management direction to the nonlethal weapons program. (b) Responsibility for Development of Nonlethal Weapons Technology.— Not later than February 15, 1996, the Secretary of Defense shall assign centralized responsibility for development (and any other functional responsibility the Secretary considers appropriate) of nonlethal weapons technology to an existing office within the Office of the Secretary of Defense or to a military service as the executive agent. (c) Report.— Not later than February 15, 1996, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report setting forth the following: (1) The name of the office or military service assigned responsibility for the nonlethal weapons program by the Secretary of Defense pursuant to subsection (b) and a discussion of the rationale for such assignment. (2) The degree to which nonlethal weapons are required by more than one of the armed forces. (3) The time frame for the development and deployment of such weapons. (4) The appropriate role of the military departments and defense agencies in the development of such weapons. (5) The military doctrine, legal, policy, and operational issues that must be addressed by the Department of Defense before such weapons achieve operational capability. (d) Authorization.— Of the amount authorized to be appropriated under section 201(4), $37,200,000 shall be available for nonlethal weapons programs and nonlethal technologies programs. 110 STAT. 224 (e) Definition.— For purposes of this section, the term “nonlethal weapon” means a weapon or instrument the effect of which on human targets is less than fatal.