Ethics staff outline plan to implement Proposition D, including mandatory training and new disclosure rules

The San Francisco Ethics Commission received a detailed presentation on implementing Proposition D, which staff called one of the most successful measures in the city’s history, and discussed timelines for training, disclosures and department‑level transitions.

Peter Lauterborn, manager of the Ethics at Work Division, gave the presentation and said Prop D won broad voter support. "It's one of the most successful measures in, city history," he said. Staff outlined six implementation components: updating general ethics training, preparing public education materials on the changes, creating departmental gift‑reporting forms, establishing personal relationship disclosure procedures, transitioning away from department‑specific statements of incompatible activities (SIAs), and updating guidance and website materials.

Lauterborn said the commission plans to take over and update the general ethics training currently managed by the Department of Human Resources so the training will satisfy both state AB 1234 requirements and Prop D’s local content. Staff said training modules may be tailored by role where appropriate, that materials and FAQs will be published on a Prop D page for departments and staff, and that the goal is to make materials available three months before the law takes effect (staff referenced a target implementation in mid‑October to align training availability).

On disclosure changes, Lauterborn said Prop D will require departments to report gifts from private entities and that the commission is developing a form and communications plan to inform departments how to comply. The commission will also set guidelines for departments to receive personal and business relationship disclosures via memo and will help departments transition away from SIAs where common elements have been subsumed by Prop D.

Commissioners asked about whether training time would be compensated and when new hires must complete the training; staff said training is a work activity that can be completed during work hours and that annual training timelines will align with Form 700 filing cycles. Debbie Lerman of the San Francisco Human Services Network, speaking during public comment, urged the commission to prioritize outreach and training for nonprofit city contractors and offered assistance organizing sector‑specific sessions.

Staff said they are auditing website content (including translations) to ensure materials are accurate and are expanding the ethics advice program (including a new portal) to manage expected increases in requests when Prop D takes effect.