Committee forwards administrative-code updates to remove age cap and modernize protected-characteristic definitions

The Rules Committee forwarded to the full Board an ordinance to revise multiple definitions in the Administrative Code so local enforcement aligns with current state law and evolving civil-rights norms.

Mr. Palino told the committee that the Department of Human Resources had reviewed the changes and determined it had no jurisdiction because the proposed revisions apply to city contractors rather than internal personnel policies. Jude Diebold of the Human Rights Commission’s Civil Rights Division said the division reviewed the code, interviewed subject-matter experts, conducted a public survey and worked with the City Attorney’s Office to prepare the proposal. “We ask that these proposals be approved so that the ordinances we enforce with the Civil Rights Division accurately reflect the communities we protect,” Diebold said.

Matthew Oglander, also with the HRC Civil Rights Division, explained that the Administrative Code still contains an age cap of 65 for employment discrimination purposes that no longer reflects state or federal law. “We want to eliminate that,” he said. Oglander also described broadening the disability definition to align with California law rather than the narrower federal standard and noted a letter of support from the Mayor’s Office on Disability.

Vice Chair Supervisor Rafael Mandelmann moved to forward the ordinance with a positive recommendation; a roll call recorded ayes and the motion passed without objection.