Committee forwards ordinance updating SOGI data collection to align with DHR practices

The Rules Committee advanced an ordinance that revises the City Employees privacy framework for collecting sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data.

Clerk read the ordinance, which would repeal portions of an existing privacy ordinance and direct the Department of Human Resources to request voluntary SOGI information from applicants and employees and to develop systems for confidential collection and retention.

Supervisor Rafael Mandelmann, a secondary author, told the committee that Department of Human Resources identified language that should be changed so the city’s approach aligns with other demographic data collection practices—collecting information confidentially rather than anonymously. "The legislation that we had previously forwarded provided for the anonymous collection of SOGI data... that would be inconsistent with the city's practices for other demographic data that it collects," he said.

Public comment on this item produced no speakers. Supervisor Mandelmann moved to forward the item to the full Board with a positive recommendation; the roll call vote recorded 'aye' from Supervisors Chan, Mandelmann and Chair Peskin and the motion passed without objection.

Next steps: the ordinance will be considered by the full Board. Implementation details will be handled by DHR per the ordinance.