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Board endorses Proposition 56 and Proposition 57, citing student health and juvenile justice reforms
Summary
The board voted to support Proposition 56 (tobacco tax to fund health programs, including school‑based prevention) and Proposition 57 (juvenile justice and parole reforms); supporters including physicians urged Prop 56 for prevention funding, and commissioners discussed justice system impacts for Prop 57.
The San Francisco Board of Education adopted resolutions supporting two statewide ballot measures that members said align with student health and justice priorities.
On Proposition 56 — the California Health Care Research and Prevention Tobacco Tax Act of 2016 — the board heard from pediatrician Dr. Shannon Constant, who urged support to raise the cigarette tax and direct revenue to Medi‑Cal, tobacco prevention and school‑based programs. The board approved an introductory resolution urging a yes vote; roll call recorded six ayes.
Later in the meeting, the board introduced and approved a resolution supporting Proposition 57, the Public Safety and Rehabilitation Act of 2016, which would alter juvenile transfer procedures and emphasize rehabilitation and judicial discretion for charging minors. Commissioners cited research on better outcomes for youth kept in juvenile systems and noted the high fiscal cost of incarceration. The board approved the resolution by a unanimous roll call.
Both endorsements are advisory: implementation depends on voter approval and, for Prop 57, potential statutory implementation steps. The board framed the endorsements as consistent with district priorities on student health and fair treatment of youth.
