CA AB674

Expands eligibility for veterans' sentencing consideration to include sexual trauma, traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, and mental health problems stemming from military service (previously limited to combat-zone service).

Requires courts to hold a pre-sentencing hearing to determine if a defendant is or was a military member and may be suffering from qualifying service-related conditions, with authority to request assessment through existing resources.

Allows courts to place eligible defendants on probation and order them into local, state, federal, or nonprofit treatment programs for a period not exceeding the sentence they would have served in prison or jail.

Directs county mental health agencies to coordinate referrals to county veterans service officers and grants preference for treatment programs with demonstrated history of treating veterans with military-related mental health and trauma conditions.

Permits courts and treatment programs to collaborate with the Department of Veterans Affairs and United States Veterans Administration to maximize available benefits and services for veteran defendants.