HB412 Summary

• Amends the Alabama Code of Military Justice by updating definitions and terminology, replacing "person" with "individual" throughout and modernizing references to the Alabama National Guard and military procedures.

• Establishes a Military Court-Martial Review Panel composed of at least three appellate military judges to serve as the appellate body for all court-martial convictions, replacing previous appeal processes.

• Modifies court-martial procedures including changes to special courts-martial composition, military judge qualifications, and evidentiary standards to align with Alabama Rules of Evidence and Criminal Procedure.

• Adjusts nonjudicial punishment parameters, including increasing appeal periods from 45 to 30 days and modifying the determination of whether restriction constitutes a punishment option.

• Repeals 11 sections of the existing military justice code and becomes effective October 1, 2024.