Board adopts ordinance to preserve adult residential facility beds; duplicates file to address staff–worker working group

Supervisor Hillary Ronan presented an ordinance that amends the health code to require the Department of Public Health to operate and maintain an adult residential facility (ARF) at full capacity and to protect long-term beds for severely mentally ill residents.

The legislation incorporates an agreement among worker leaders, SEIU Local 1021, DPH leadership and the mayor’s office to preserve clinical capacity and provide staff protections, Supervisor Ronan said. "This agreement will protect the health and stability of 32 severely mentally ill residents who currently live at the ARF home," Ronan said while outlining provisions in the ordinance.

Key elements included in the bill as presented require DPH to operate a specified number of long-term and emergency beds (the sponsor described operating 28 long-term beds and 27 emergency shelter beds beginning in March 2020, with clinically appropriate alternatives offered), set training requirements, provide objective analysis of the behavioral health center, and establish procedures for voluntary transfers with conservators and resident input.

Supervisor Ronan told the board that the city attorney had advised that creating a working group of ARF management and staff was a substantive amendment. She said she would move to duplicate the file so the board could consider the working group structure and parameters after further negotiations among workers, management and DPH. The board approved the verbal amendments and, by unanimous consent, passed the ordinance on first reading and agreed to duplicate the file and send the new file to committee for further consideration.

Several supervisors offered brief remarks in support and to urge continued accountability from DPH. Supervisor John Preston said recent disclosures at Laguna Honda raised concerns about department communications with the board and urged improved transparency. Supervisor Safaíe asked to be a cosponsor.

The ordinance was passed on first reading with the sponsor’s amendments incorporated; the board directed that the duplicated file be sent to committee so members can take up details of the proposed working group structure. No roll-call vote tally for adoption on first reading appears in the transcript; the measure passed by unanimous consent on the floor.