Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 110 Part 1.djvu/367

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PUBLIC LAW 104-106—FEB. 10, 1996 110 STAT. 343 "(4) The Secretary who appoints a board under this subsection shall, for purposes of providing legal counsel to the board, assign to the board a judge advocate, or appoint to the board an attorney, with the same qualifications as specified in section 1503(c)(4) of this title. "(e) DUTIES OF BOARD.—^A board appointed under this section to conduct an inquiry into the whereabouts and status of a person shall— "(1) review the reports with respect to the person transmitted under section 1502(a)(2) of this title and submitted under section 1503(h) of this title; "(2) collect and evaluate any document, fact, or other evidence with respect to the whereabouts and status of the person that has become available since the determination of the status of the person under section 1503 of this title; "(3) draw conclusions as to the whereabouts and status of the person; "(4) determine on the basis of the activities under paragraphs (1) and (2) whether the status of the person should be continued or changed; and "(5) submit to the Secretary concerned a report describing Reports, the findings and conclusions of the board, together with a recommendation for a determination by the Secretary concerning the whereabouts and status of the person. "(f) COUNSEL FOR MISSING PERSONS. —(1) When the Secretary concerned appoints a board to conduct an inquiry under this section, the Secretary shall appoint counsel to represent each person covered by the inquiry. "(2) A person appointed as counsel under this subsection shall meet the qualifications and have the duties set forth in section 1503(f) of this title for a missing person's counsel appointed under that section. "(3) The review of the report of a board on an inquiry that is submitted by such counsel shall be made an official part of the record of the board with respect to the inquiry. "(g) ATTENDANCE OF FAMILY MEMBERS AND CERTAIN OTHER INTERESTED PERSONS AT PROCEEDINGS.—(1) With respect to any person covered by an inquiry under this section, the primary next of kin, other members of the immediate family, and any other previously designated person of the person may attend the proceedings of the board during the inquiry. "(2) The Secretary concerned shall take reasonable actions to notify each individual referred to in paragraph (1) of the opportunity to attend the proceedings of a board. Such notice shall be provided not less than 60 days before the first meeting of the board. "(3) An individual who receives notice under paragraph (2) shall notify the Secretary of the intent, if any, of that individual to attend the proceedings of the board not later than 21 days after the date on which the individual receives the notice. "(4) Each individual who notifies the Secretary under paragraph (3) of the individual's intent to attend the proceedings of the board— "(A) in the case of an individual who is the primary next of kin or the previously designated person, may attend the proceedings of the board with private counsel; "(B) shall have access to the personnel file of the missing person, to unclassified reports, if any, of the board appointed under section 1503 of this title to conduct the inquiry into