Supervisor Tang introduces charter amendment to strengthen city paid parental leave; also proposes flexibility for animal-control adoption fees

Supervisor Tang introduced a charter amendment and related items on May 19 aimed at expanding San Franciscopaid parental leave policies for city employees and giving the city's animal-control agency more flexibility on adoption fees.

On paid parental leave, Supervisor Tang said San Francisco voters approved the city's original paid parental leave measure in 2002 and that the city currently offers 12 weeks of paid parental leave (up to 16 weeks for pregnancy-related disability) that supplements state disability insurance and other leave. Tang proposed a charter amendment that would: allow city employees to retain 40 hours of accrued sick leave when they begin paid parental leave (instead of exhausting all sick and vacation time first); and ensure that when two city workers in the same family are eligible, each is entitled to an equal share of the benefit (rather than splitting the benefit between them).

Tang said the charter amendment is the first part of a multi-phase effort that will include forming a paid parental leave task force to study additional options, including possible extensions beyond 12 weeks and potentially expanding benefits to non-municipal employees. He cited national and international comparisons, including federal and other-city changes announced in 2015 and research on health benefits associated with paid leave. Tang said the proposal has multiple co-sponsors and that he will seek additional support.

In the same presentation, Tang introduced legislation to allow the San Francisco Department of Animal Care and Control (ACC) to reduce or waive adoption fees and other charges when doing so would maintain or increase the animals' live-release rate. Tang said ACC currently can waive fees only when external funding is provided (for example from Maddie's Fund during limited events) and that the change would allow ACC to participate in fee-waiver efforts such as coordinated regional "Empty the Shelters" events.

These items were introduced and referred to committee for further hearings and drafting. Tang said the proposals are intended to enhance family and community support services and to give city agencies flexibility to improve outcomes.