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Rules Committee advances 'Dignity Fund' draft to guarantee baseline services for seniors, people with disabilities
Summary
Supervisor Malia Cohen's second‑draft charter amendment to establish a 'Dignity Fund' — a baseline dedicated revenue stream for seniors, adults with disabilities and people living with HIV/AIDS — was amended and continued. Coalition members and service providers urged predictable funding to prevent annual budget fights.
Supervisor Malia Cohen presented a second‑draft charter amendment to create a Dignity Fund providing baseline, dedicated annual funding for services to seniors, adults with disabilities and people living with HIV/AIDS. The amended language raised the baseline to an updated $38 million in the initial fiscal year (reflecting recent budget add‑backs) with planned annual growth and a defined oversight advisory committee.
Supporters included senior‑service providers, veterans groups and disability advocates. Speakers said the fund would help with prevention, aging in place, and provide steady support for home care, legal services, and supportive housing exits. Bayview Senior Services and other providers testified that annual budget fights leave core services tenuous and that a stable funding stream would support long‑term planning and cost savings.
Supervisor Cohen introduced technical amendments clarifying baseline figures, the advisory committee review process (including a 30‑day board hearing right for appointments), and a budget‑deficit trigger consistent with recent charter measures. The Controller indicated it would provide updated costing at the next hearing. The committee adopted the amendments and continued Item 4 to the July 7 Rules Committee meeting for finalization.
