San Francisco Rules Committee Meeting - October 28, 2024
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San Francisco Rules Committee Regular Meeting - October 28, 2024
The Rules Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors met on October 28, 2024, chaired by Supervisor Shimon Waltz, joined by President Aaron Peskin. The committee considered three items: appointments to the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Public Authority Governing Board, a surveillance technology policy for the Juvenile Probation Department's use of web filtering software, and amendments to the TJ Anthony Catastrophic Illness Program. All items were approved unanimously and recommended to the full Board.
Public Comments & Testimony
No members of the public provided oral comments on any of the agenda items.
Discussion Items
- IHSS Public Authority Appointments (Item 1): The committee considered reappointing four members to the IHSS Public Authority Governing Board. Jesse Nichols (Seat 5) was absent. Sasha Brittner (Seat 11) testified through her father, sharing her lived experience as a high-needs IHSS consumer and disability rights activist. She expressed full support for the program and her commitment to serving on the board. Daisy McArthur (Seat 12) also testified, praising the IHSS program and her work supporting seniors and people with disabilities. Robin Wilson Beattie (Seat 13) was not present but had submitted an application. Supervisors Walton and Safai expressed appreciation for IHSS providers and consumers. The motion to forward all four names to the full board with a positive recommendation passed unanimously.
- Juvenile Probation Web Filtering Software Policy (Item 2): A representative from the Juvenile Probation Department presented a proposed surveillance technology policy for web filtering software used to protect youth in detention from harmful content and security threats. The software blocks distractions, malware, and restricts live chat on allowed sites like YouTube. It retains visited website data for at least one year but can be purged earlier. The initial cost was approximately $2,000–$3,000, with ongoing per-user license fees. The policy was previously reviewed and recommended by PSAB and COIT committees. The committee moved the ordinance forward with a positive recommendation, passing unanimously.
- Catastrophic Illness Program Amendments (Item 3): Carol Isen, Director of the Department of Human Resources (DHR), presented amendments to the TJ Anthony Catastrophic Illness Program. Key changes include transferring full administration from the Department of Public Health to DHR, creating a general sick leave donation pool (instead of earmarking for specific employees), and reducing the waiting period for new employees from one year to three months. Dr. Fiona Wilson, chief physician for city employees, noted that approximately 50 applications are received annually, with about 85% approved. Denials typically involve chronic conditions like diabetes or arthritis rather than truly catastrophic illnesses. The committee voted unanimously to recommend the ordinance to the full board.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1 (IHSS Appointments): Motion to send the names of Jesse Nichols, Sasha Brittner, Robin Wilson Beattie, and Daisy McArthur to the full Board with a positive recommendation passed 3-0.
- Item 2 (Web Filtering Policy): Motion to forward the ordinance to the full board with a positive recommendation passed 3-0.
- Item 3 (Catastrophic Illness Program): Motion to forward the ordinance to the full board with a positive recommendation passed 3-0.
Meeting Transcript
All right, good morning. Welcome to our October 28th, 2024 Rules Committee meeting. I am Supervisor Shimon Waltz and your chair for this committee, joined by President Aaron Peskin. Our clerk today is Victor Young, and we are being supported by Eugene Labadia with SFGov TV, who will be broadcasting this meeting. Mr. Clerk, do you have any announcements? Yes, public comment will be taken on each item on today's agenda. When your item of interest comes up and public comment is clawed. Please line speak. Alternatively, you may submit public comment in writing in either of the following ways. Email them to myself, the Rules Committee Clerk at VICTOR.yo UNG at SFGov.org. If you submit public comment via email, it will be forwarded to the supervisors included in the file. May you also send your written comments via U.S. mail to our office at City Hall, one Dr. Carleton be goodly please, Room 244, San Francisco, California 94102. Please make sure to silence all cell phones and electronic devices. Items acted upon today are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors' agenda on November the 5th, unless otherwise stated. That completes my initial announcements. Thank you so much, Mr. Clerk. And would you please call item number one? Item number one is a hearing to consider appointing two members' terms ending March 1st, 2026, and two members' terms ending March 1st, 2027 to the in-home supporters services public authority. Thank you. And I know we have four seats today. And I am just going to call everyone in order of how they appear on the agenda. And you have two minutes to just tell us a little bit about yourself and why you would like to be reappointed, and we will start with Jesse Nichols. I believe that uh Jesse is uh not in town today. They are out out of they're not available to attend today's meeting. Got it. Sasha Brittner. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning, supervisors. I have a speech disability as a result of cerebral policy. So my dad, Bruce Joseph. We'll be reading and interpreting for you today. Um I moved to San Francisco in 1980 when I was six years old and have been receiving IHS services since that time, which means my mom has been an IHSS worker since that time too. I attended San Francisco Public Schools, graduated from UC Berkeley, and I've lived in the Ingleside Terraces neighborhood with my family for the last 35 years. I've also been a disability rights activist for more than 35 years and was first arrested at age 16 for protesting proposed IHSS cuts. In-home support services have enabled me to live a full and productive life. And I want that same support for every person in San Francisco who can benefit from these services. Since I have employed both family and nonfamily members as personal care attendants, I have some understanding of the unique challenges both types of caregivers face. And I became more informed about the discrimination and unequal labor protection that attendants and other domestic workers experience when I joined hand in hand the domestic employers network in 2011 after Assemblymember Tom Amiano encouraged me to get involved. I currently serve on the agency's National Steering Committee. In 2011, I represented hand in hand at a press conference with President Obama when he proposed an executive order mandating overtime for government-funded home care providers, which ended up as a very tangible benefit for IHSS workers. As a repres representative of hand in hand, I also participate in the long-term supports and service committee, working for domestic care workers' rights and more available home care for disabled and elderly people using an intersectional model. The committee includes SEIU representation as well as represent representation from the other California IHSS Union, UDW. We are currently advocating for long-term supports and services programs for middle-income people, especially as we confront a demographic gray tsunami and want seniors to have the option to age in place. I am able to take legislative issues I may hear about in this committee to the public authority governing board for discussion. Since 2015, I have also been a member of the San Francisco IHSS task force, made up of disability and senior advocates and representatives from the public authority, IHSS and Home Bridge.
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