(a) Administrative Enforcement.
(1) The Agency is authorized to take appropriate steps to enforce this Article 31 and coordinate enforcement of this Article. The Agency may investigate possible violations of this Article. Where the Agency has reason to believe that a violation has occurred, it may order any appropriate temporary or interim relief to mitigate the violation or maintain the status quo pending completion of a full investigation or hearing. Given the time-sensitive nature of a complainant’s need for accommodation, the Agency shall endeavor to investigate and resolve complaints in an expeditious manner.
(2) The Agency shall not enforce and shall not impose penalties for any violation of Sections 1030-1032 of the Labor Code or violations of federal law.
(3) Where the Agency determines that a violation of this Article has occurred, it may issue a determination and order any appropriate relief, provided, however, that during 2018, the Agency must issue warnings and notices to correct. Starting January 1, 2019, the Agency may issue determinations and impose an administrative penalty up to $500 for each violation of this Article. Prior to issuing a determination and imposing an administrative penalty, the Agency must issue a notice to correct and provide a reasonable amount of time for the Employer to resolve the violation. With the notice to correct, the Agency shall also provide or refer the Employer to information regarding how to resolve the violation. If the Employer resolves the violation within the prescribed period, the Agency shall not issue a determination of violation or impose an administrative penalty.
(4) Where prompt compliance is not forthcoming, the Agency may take any appropriate enforcement action to secure compliance. In order to compensate the City for the costs of investigating and remedying the violation, the Agency may also order the violating Employer or person to pay to the City a sum of not more than $50 for each day or portion thereof and for each Employee or person as to whom the violation occurred or continued. Such funds shall be allocated to the Agency and used to offset the costs of implementing and enforcing this Article.
(5) An Employee or other person acting on behalf of an Employee may report to the Agency any suspected violation of this Article. The Agency shall encourage reporting pursuant to this subsection (a)(5) by keeping confidential, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable laws, the name and other identifying information of the Employee or person reporting the violation; provided however, that with the authorization of such person, the Agency may disclose his or her name and identifying information as necessary to enforce this Article or for other appropriate purposes. The filing of a report of a suspected violation by an Employee does not create any right of appeal to the Agency by the Employee; based on its sole discretion, the Agency may decide whether to investigate or pursue a violation of this Article.
(6) Rulemaking. The Director of the Agency may issue rules, regulations, or guidance consistent with this Article to further the purpose of the Article. The Director of the Agency may also establish rules and policies governing the administrative process for determining and appealing violations of this Article. The rules shall include but not necessarily be limited to procedures for:
(A) providing the Employer with notice that it may have violated this Article;
(B) providing the Employer with a right to respond to the notice;
(C) providing the Employer with notice of the Agency’s determination of a violation; and
(D) providing the Employer with an opportunity to appeal the Agency’s determination to a hearing officer, not employed by the Agency, who is appointed by the City Controller or his or her designee.
(7) If there is no appeal of the Agency’s determination of a violation, that determination shall constitute the City’s final decision. An Employer’s failure to appeal the Agency’s determination of a violation shall constitute a failure to exhaust administrative remedies, which shall serve as a complete defense to any petition or claim brought by the Employer against the City regarding the Agency’s determination of a violation.
(8) If there is an appeal of the Agency’s determination of a violation, the hearing before the hearing officer shall be conducted in a manner that satisfies the requirements of due process. In any such hearing, the Agency’s determination of a violation shall be considered prima facie evidence of a violation, and the Employer shall have the burden of proving, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the Agency’s determination of a violation is incorrect. The hearing officer’s decision of the appeal shall constitute the City’s final decision. The sole means of review of the City’s final decision, rendered by the hearing officer, shall be by filing in the San Francisco Superior Court a petition for writ of mandate under Section 1094.5 of the California Code of Civil Procedure. The Agency shall notify the Employer of this right of review after issuance of the City’s final decision by the hearing officer.
(b) Interest. In any administrative action brought under this Article, the Agency or court, as the case may be, shall award interest on all amounts due and unpaid at the rate of interest specified in subdivision (b) of Section 3289 of the California Civil Code.
(c) Remedies Cumulative. The remedies, penalties, and procedures provided under this Article are cumulative.