Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Department of Public Health shall maintain an adequate level of free and low cost medical substance abuse services and residential treatment slots commensurate with the demand for these services.
Demand shall be measured by the total number of filled medical substance abuse slots plus the total number of individuals seeking such slots as well as the total number of filled residential treatment slots plus the number of individuals seeking such slots.
The City and County shall be flexible in providing various treatment modalities for both residential substance abuse treatment services and medical substance abuse treatment services.
The Department of Public Health shall report to the Board of Supervisors by February 1st of each year with an assessment of the demand for substance abuse treatment and present a plan to meet this demand. This plan should also be reflected in the City budget.
The City and County shall not reduce funding, staffing or the number of substance abuse treatment slots available for as long as slots are filled or there is any number of individuals seeking such slots.
Nothing in this section shall diminish, interfere with or otherwise alter the Mayor's authority under Article III, section 3.100(13)2 of the Charter.
SECTION 4. Effective Date.
The provisions of this ordinance shall take effect upon certification of the election.
SECTION 5. Severability.
If any provision of this ordinance or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid or unconstitutional, such invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect other provisions or applications of this charter amendment3 that can be given effect without the invalid or unconstitutional provision of application, and to this end the provisions of this ordinance are severable.
SECTION 6. Amendments.
The provisions of this initiative, once enacted, may not be amended except by a subsequent initiative ordinance.
CODIFICATION NOTES