SAN FRANCISCO SMALL BUSINESS COMMISSION
TO HEAR SUPERVISOR AMMIANO’S HEALTH CARE PROPOSAL
Commission members to call for an economic analysis of proposal

SAN FRANCISCO – The City of San Francisco’s Small Business Commission (SBC) on Monday January 9, 2006 , will consider a comprehensive voter-mandated economic analysis of Supervisor Tom Ammiano’s proposed Health Care Security Act. The meeting will be held 5:30 p.m. at City Hall Room 400. The public is encouraged to attend and share their thoughts on the proposal, especially small business owners who may be impacted.

Supervisor Ammiano’s legislation would require San Francisco businesses and non-profits with 20 or more employees to pay a fee to provide health benefits for their employees that work 80 or more hours per month. This legislation would also impact businesses and non-profits that already provide health insurance to their employees.

Before the legislation is considered by the Board of Supervisors, the Small Business Commission will consider a resolution calling for a thorough economic analysis of the legislation. San Francisco voter approved Proposition I would require the city to study the proposed legislation and report on the likely impact on the local economy, including an analysis of the city’s ability to attract and retain businesses and jobs.

“This resolution was called for by Commissioner Michael O’Connor, who introduced the idea at the December Commission meeting,” stated Agnes Briones Ubalde, Executive Director of the Small Business Commission. “The Commission believes that a more inclusive process is necessary to draw upon the expertise of the Small Business Commission, as well as a broad cross-section of community and business leaders.”

The proposed resolution calls for a broadened coalition taskforce comprised of elected officials, health care experts, community health advocates, local small business and non-profit leaders to explore alternate collaborative approaches to health care availability. In December, Mayor Newsom sent a letter to the Board of Supervisors expressing his concern that the proposed ordinance would place a burden of “hundreds of thousands of dollars” on small businesses in San Francisco.

This meeting will be broadcasted live on SFGTV, San Francisco Cable
Channel 26