State to audit spending of emergency-medical funds in L.A. County

A legislative panel has ordered an audit into complaints that voter-approved funds are not being fairly distributed throughout Los Angeles County to provide trauma centers and emergency room services.

The state’s Joint Legislative Audit Committee approved the review of how funds from 2002’s Measure B are being spent.

The report by state Auditor Elaine Howle was requested by Assemblyman Roger Hernández (D-West Covina), who called the panel’s decision a “victory for taxpayers” throughout L.A. County.

“San Gabriel Valley residents have contributed nearly 20% of Measure B funds on an annual basis, yet they have not seen an increase in services,” Hernández said in a statement.

Hernández sought the audit rather than pursue legislation that would have required Measure B money collected in the San Gabriel Valley to be spent there. He said he was not satisfied by county’s decision to give the valley access to a helicopter to reach far-away facilities.

The legislative committee also approved an audit of county child protective services agencies throughout the state following an incident in L.A. County in which a child died after delays in an investigation.

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