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Task force urges San Francisco to tie fines and fees to ability to pay, expand diversion and end suspension referrals
Summary
The Financial Justice Task Force recommended citywide reforms — ability‑to‑pay assessments, expanded community service/diversion, limits on license suspensions and child‑support debt relief — and drew broad support from legal advocates, nonprofits and the Treasurer’s office at a May 17 hearing.
A city task force on May 17 recommended overhauling how San Francisco charges and enforces fines and fees, urging city and court practices that consider people’s ability to pay, expand non‑monetary alternatives and limit sanctions that deepen poverty.
"When the fines are within a family's ability to pay, they will pay them," Elisa de la Piana of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights told the committee during public comment. Advocates said reform can increase collections while reducing racial disparities.
Anne Stuhldreher, director of the Financial Justice Project in the Treasurer’s office, presented the Task Force’s recommendations developed with nine city departments and…
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