Previously the Texas Code of Military Justice authorized a commanding officer, as nonjudicial punishment for minor offenses, to demote subordinate personnel not more than the number of pay grades that the commanding officer was authorized to promote personnel. The only commanding officer authorized to demote personnel more than one rank was the adjutant general. Senate Bill 1217 authorizes a commanding officer of the rank of colonel or higher to demote personnel up to two pay grades and a commanding officer of a rank lower than colonel to demote personnel not more than one pay grade. The bill allows a commanding officer to delegate this demotion authority to the officer's executive officer, chief of staff, or vice commander. The bill also increases certain fines and terms of confinement authorized under courts-martial.