State watchdog trains eye on veterans agency

A state watchdog agency will turn its attention to California’s Veterans Affairs agency to look at "whether state programs are properly aligned with veterans needs."

The meeting of the Little Hoover Commission will take place in Sacramento on Tuesday.

The hearing comes in the wake of two audits of state veterans programs ordered by the state Assembly, after concerns from lawmakers that the state could be doing more to help its nearly 2 million veterans.

Legislation authored by Assembly Speaker John A. Perez (D-Los Angeles) led Gov. Jerry Brown to create a new interagency council to help better coordinate services aimed at helping Californians who have served in the military.

Results of an Assembly-ordered audit of the state’s veterans homes is due in May.

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-- Anthony York in Sacramento