(a) Provision of legal representation. The City and County of San Francisco shall establish, run, and fully fund a program to provide legal representation for all tenants within the City and County who are faced with legal proceedings to evict them from their residence. This legal representation shall be available to a tenant thirty days after a tenant is served with an eviction notice or upon service of an unlawful detainer complaint, whichever occurs first, and at least until such time that the eviction notice or unlawful detainer complaint is withdrawn, the case is dismissed, or a judgment in the matter is entered.
(b) Exception for landlord or master tenant who resides in same dwelling unit. The requirements of this Section shall not apply when eviction proceedings are brought by a landlord or master tenant who resides in the same dwelling unit with his or her tenant.
(c) Implementation. The Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development shall promptly take all necessary steps to fully implement the provisions of this Section as soon as practicable, but not later than 12 months after the effective date of this Initiative. The City and County shall have no obligation to provide legal services under this Section where a state or federal program already provides full scope legal representation to a tenant facing eviction proceedings.
(d) For the purposes of this Section, the term “legal representation” shall mean full scope representation provided to an individual by a designated organization or attorney which includes, but is not limited to, filing responsive pleadings, appearing on behalf of the tenant in court proceedings, and providing legal advice.
(e) For the purposes of this Section, the term “eviction notice” shall mean a notice to terminate tenancy, however denominated.
(Added by Proposition F, 6/5/2018, Eff. 7/20/2018)
*Editor’s Note:
The drafters of Proposition F (June 5, 2018) did not include the title in Section 58.4 as submitted to voters; therefore, the title is bracketed to indicate that it is unofficial.
The drafters of Proposition F (June 5, 2018) did not include the title in Section 58.4 as submitted to voters; therefore, the title is bracketed to indicate that it is unofficial.