PILOT PROGRAM ON USE OF VIDEO TELECONFERENCING TECHNOLOGY BY BOARDS FOR THE CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS AND DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARDS.

SEC. 524. [10 U.S.C. 1552 note] PILOT PROGRAM ON USE OF VIDEO TELECONFERENCING TECHNOLOGY BY BOARDS FOR THE CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS AND DISCHARGE REVIEW BOARDS. (a) Pilot Program Authorized.—The Secretary of Defense may carry out a pilot program under which boards for the correction of military records established under section 1552 of title 10, United States Code, and discharge review boards established under section 1553 of such title are authorized to utilize, in the performance of their duties, video teleconferencing technology, to the extent such technology is reasonably available and technically feasible. (b) Purpose.—The purpose of the pilot program is to evaluate the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of utilizing video teleconferencing technology to allow persons who raise a claim before a board for the correction of military records, persons who request a review by a discharge review board, and witnesses who present evidence to such a board to appear before such a board without being physically present. (c) Implementation.—As part of the pilot program, the Secretary of Defense shall make funds available to develop the capabilities of boards for the correction of military records and discharge review boards to effectively use video teleconferencing technology. (d) No Expansion of Eligibility.—Nothing in the pilot program is intended to alter the eligibility criteria of persons who may raise a claim before a board for the correction of military records, request a review by a discharge review board, or present evidence to such a board. (e) Termination.—The authority of the Secretary of Defense to carry out the pilot program shall terminate on December 31, 2020.