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Rules Committee urges state repeal of Health & Safety Code §1569.147 to let cities limit assisted-living rent hikes
Summary
The San Francisco Rules Committee voted to forward a nonbinding resolution to the full Board urging repeal of Health & Safety Code section 1569.147 so local governments can limit annual rent increases at licensed residential care facilities; dozens of senior residents and advocacy groups testified about 4–6% yearly hikes that outpace pensions.
The San Francisco Rules Committee on Tuesday voted to forward to the full Board a nonbinding resolution urging the California Legislature to repeal Health and Safety Code section 1569.147, which currently preempts local rent limits on occupied units in licensed residential care facilities for the elderly.
Chair Supervisor Tom Ammiano described the resolution’s aim as giving cities “the ability to debate the issue with real options” after hearing repeated accounts from residents who said annual cost increases at assisted-living facilities have driven them toward financial distress. The committee approved a non-substantive amendment to the citation format (changing the dash to a period: 1569.147) and moved the measure to the full Board with a recommendation that the city transmit it to San Francisco’s state delegation.
The committee heard lengthy public comment from residents and families at Sunrise at Golden Gate Park and other facilities. Yvette Kelly, who said she receives about $3,300 a month in pension, testified that a 6% annual increase at her facility would add roughly $371 to her monthly costs and $4,452 yearly, pushing a fixed-income resident toward crisis. “They decided the income should be raised by 6% each year,” Kelly said, asking supervisors to forward the resolution so the Board can press Sacramento to act.
Other speakers described similar experiences after in-facility ownership changes and corporate management, saying annual increases of 4–6% exceed typical cost-of-living adjustments on Social Security or public pensions. Joe Shelley, president of the Residents Association at Sunrise at Golden Gate Park, urged action so seniors “can live there for the rest of our lives in security.” Representatives of Senior Action Network, the Older Women’s League, the California Alliance for Retired Americans and retired-educator organizations also urged the Board to press for statewide change while researching local protections.
The resolution itself does not change law locally; it asks Sacramento to repeal the state provision that prevents cities from limiting those annual increases, enabling local debate and potential local controls. The committee’s action forwards the symbolic step and asks San Francisco’s state legislators to consider drafting or supporting repeal language.
Next steps: The resolution will appear on the Board of Supervisors’ calendar and staff said the chair will seek to ensure the city’s state delegation is notified. The measure, as advanced, is advisory and would not by itself impose limits; any local policy change would require further Board action and, depending on state response, possible statewide legislative change.
