Section 1. Part II of the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States, is amended as follows: . . . (h) R.C.M. 405(a) is amended to read as follows: “(a) In general. Except as provided in R.C.M. 405(n), no charge or specification may be referred to a general court-martial for trial until completion of a preliminary hearing in substantial compliance with this rule. The issues for determination at a preliminary hearing are limited to the following: whether each specification alleges an offense; whether there is probable cause to believe that the accused committed the offense or offenses charged; whether the convening authority has court-martial jurisdiction over the accused and over the offense; and the appropriate disposition that should be made of the case. Failure to comply with this rule shall have no effect on the disposition of any charge if the charge is not referred to a general court martial. The preliminary hearing enables the impartial assessment of the case so that the preliminary hearing report can meaningfully inform a disposition determination.”

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