The City and County of San Francisco (“City”) has a paramount interest in protecting the integrity of its government institutions. To further this interest, individuals should be encouraged to report possible violations of laws, regulations, and rules governing the conduct of City officers and employees, City contractors, and employees of City contractors.
This Chapter 1 fulfills the Charter’s requirements for two City programs relating to whistleblowers, as required by Charter Appendix Section F1.107. First, as required by the Charter, the Office of the Controller has authority to receive and investigate whistleblower complaints concerning deficiencies in the quality and delivery of City government services, wasteful and inefficient City government practices, misuse of City funds, and improper activities by City officers, employees, and contractors.
Second, as required by the Charter, this ordinance protects the confidentiality of whistleblowers, and protects City officers and employees from retaliation for filing whistleblower complaints or providing assistance with the investigation of such complaints. As set forth in this Chapter 1, the Ethics Commission has primary responsibility for ensuring such protections.
(Added by Ord. 71-00, File No. 000358, App. 4/28/2000; amended by Ord. 29-02, File No. 020017, App. 3/15/2002; Ord. 205-08, File No. 080019, 9/18/2008; Ord. 299-18, File No. 180317, App. 12/21/2018, Eff. 1/21/2019; re-enacted by Proposition D, 3/5/2024, Eff. 4/12/2024, Oper. 10/12/2024)