STUDY ON REMOVAL OF SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM ADVOCATES FROM THE CHAIN OF COMMAND OF VICTIMS.

SEC. 537. STUDY ON REMOVAL OF SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM ADVOCATES FROM THE CHAIN OF COMMAND OF VICTIMS. (a) Study.—The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a study to determine— (1) the feasibility and advisability of requiring that any Sexual Assault Victim Advocate assigned to a victim under section 1565b of title 10, United States Code, be from outside the chain of command of the victim; and (2) the potential effects of such a requirement on the ability of the Armed Forces to implement sexual assault prevention and response programs. (b) Report.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the results of the study conducted under subsection (a).