Charter Amendment (Second Draft) to amend the Charter of the City and County of San Francisco to allow registered nurses, who are or become members of the San Francisco Employees’ Retirement System and have worked an average of 32 hours or more per week for at least one year, to purchase up to three years of service credit for time previously worked as per diem nurses; and to move public safety communications personnel (911 dispatchers, supervisors, and coordinators) from the miscellaneous retirement plans to the miscellaneous safety retirement plan, for compensation earned on and after January 4, 2025; at an election to be held on November 5, 2024.

The Department reported an estimated 169 fully funded RN positions were vacant, highlighting a critical nursing shortage affecting patient care.

The report attributed reduced quality of care and long wait times at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital to high RN vacancy rates.

The Board introduced a Charter Amendment to allow registered nurses to purchase service credit for time worked as per diem nurses and to move public safety communications personnel to a safety retirement plan.

The Department was referred the Charter Amendment to assess the impact and fulfill 'Meet and Confer' requirements.

The report estimated the financial impact of the Charter Amendment, projecting an increase in employer contributions due to enhanced retirement benefits.

The Rules Committee amended the Charter Amendment to refine the language and provisions before it was recommended for submission to the Board.

The final version of the Charter Amendment was transmitted to the Department of Elections for inclusion on the ballot for the November 5, 2024 election.