Rules committee forwards parental leave policy enabling teleconference participation for supervisors

The Rules Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to send to the full Board a motion to add a new Rule 5.22.1 to the Board’s rules of order to formalize parental leave and permit teleconference participation for members on parental leave.

The motion, introduced for committee consideration, would align the Board’s internal rules with existing city and state parental-leave policies and allow a member on approved parental leave to participate remotely under the Brown Act’s limited teleconferencing provisions.

“ This motion, as you've heard, will amend the board rules of order to formally include a parental leave policy that mirrors state and city policy to provide the ability for members to take official leave to bond with their new children and to be supported in that role,” said Jen Lowe, legislative aide to Supervisor Melgar, who spoke to the committee in support of the item. Lowe told the committee the rule would allow participation via teleconference as provided by the Brown Act.

Lowe traced earlier efforts on remote participation to a 2006 charter amendment and a 2021 ordinance that expanded teleconferencing authority. She told the committee that prior versions of the Brown Act required public disclosure of remote locations, a constraint that could be impractical or unsafe during pregnancy, childbirth or recovery.

Acting Chair Supervisor Steven Sherrill expressed support. “I’m personally grateful that this needed change is finally happening,” he said, and added himself as a cosponsor during committee consideration.

There were no public speakers on the item. Acting Chair Sherrill made the motion to send the measure to the full Board with a positive recommendation; the clerk recorded votes in favor by Member Mandelmann and Acting Chair Cheryl (Walton was recorded as excused). The motion passed without objection.

If the full Board adopts the committee recommendation, the new rule would institutionalize teleconference participation for bonding leave consistent with the Brown Act’s current limited teleconferencing allowances. Committee members said they view the change as a step toward broader accommodations for caregivers but expressed a desire to continue pushing for further legislative changes at the state and federal levels to expand remote participation in elected bodies.

The committee’s recommendation will appear on the Board of Supervisors’ agenda for consideration by the full Board.