I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5378 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 10, 2019 Mr. Brown of Maryland (for himself, Mr. Hoyer , and Mr. Bacon ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To extend the death gratuity and casualty assistance to survivors of certain deceased graduates of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Second Lieutenant Richard W. Collins III Memorial Act . 2. Death gratuity for ROTC graduates (a) In general Section 1475(a)(4) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding ; or a graduate of a reserve officers' training corps who received a commission but has yet to receive a first duty assignment; or at the end. (b) Effective date The amendment under subsection (a) applies to deaths on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. 3. Casualty assistance for ROTC graduates Section 633 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 ( 10 U.S.C. 1475 note) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (c) ROTC graduates (1) Treated as members For purposes of this section, a graduate of a reserve officers' training corps who receives a commission and who dies before receiving a first duty assignment shall be treated as a member of the Armed Forces who dies while on active duty. (2) Effective date This subsection applies to deaths on or after the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020. .