(a) If a person is held for trial by general court-martial, the commanding officer shall, not later than the eighth day after the date the accused is ordered into arrest or confinement, forward the charges, together with the investigation and allied papers, to the officer exercising general court-martial jurisdiction.
(b) If compliance with Subsection (a) is not practicable, the commanding officer shall instead report in writing to that officer the reasons for delay.