City Attorney seeks funding for Care Court and permanent gun‑violence restraining position

City Attorney David Chu told the Budget & Appropriations Committee that his office’s proposed FY24 budget includes positions to implement the state’s new Care Court mandate and requested Board support to secure funding for gun violence restraining order work beyond last year’s temporary add‑back. Chu said his office secured substantial litigation recoveries for the city in opioid settlements and used those and other resources to support city priorities, but argued that the legal and court workload tied to Care Court could reach thousands of petitions and would require a sustained legal team.

Chu said last year’s temporary gun‑violence restraining‑order (GVRO) position was funded with a $300,000 add‑back and that the office seeks $500,000 to continue and expand the unit’s outreach, training and referrals. He cited San Diego and Santa Clara examples where expanded GVRO teams removed thousands of firearms from dangerous individuals and urged continued Board support. Supervisors asked for the precise add‑back request and for clarification about what state planning dollars accompany the Care Court law; Chu and budget staff said some planning grants were routed to county public health but the CAO did not receive direct state planning funds and is seeking additional support from the governor and legislature while preparing to stand up the court on October 1.

The Committee asked for written follow‑up to reconcile slides and materials where earlier and current submission versions differed (Chu said a slide submitted to the Committee was last year’s presentation and his team would provide corrected materials). Supervisors expressed concern about an unfunded state mandate and requested updated information on anticipated state funding and operational impacts before the next calendar hearing.