Proposition I | californiachoices.org

My vote

A “per diem nurse” is a Registered Nurse employed by the City on an occasional and temporary basis. Since 1988, they are not members of SFERS and do not receive any pension service credit for the hours they work on a per diem basis. Proposition I would allow eligible Registered Nurses to purchase service credit for hours they worked on a per diem basis. It would also move 911 dispatchers, supervisors and coordinators from the Miscellaneous Plans to the Miscellaneous Safety Plan for compensation those employees earn on and after January 4, 2025. In general, retirees receive greater pension benefits under the Safety Plans and the Miscellaneous Safety Plan than they do under the Miscellaneous Plans. Prop I is a charter amendment that requires 50%+1 affirmative votes to pass.

Fiscal Impact: Prop I would result in increased costs to the City ranging from approximately $3.8 million to approximately $6.7 million annually in the first year, with annual costs increasing over time.

Next San Francisco County Measure: Measure J

See Endorsements for Proposition I

Details

Pro/Con

Pro:

Supporters argue that San Francisco faces a dire shortage of 911 dispatchers and Registered Nurses. Prop I will improve recruitment and retention of these critical First Responders, reducing the strain on taxpayers caused by hiring shortages and excessive overtime. Prop I is critical to fill the 911 staffing shortage, and the nursing shortage. It is a win-win-win for San Francisco’s budget, taxpayers, and safety.

A YES vote on this measure means: you want to allow Registered Nurses who are members of the San Francisco Employees’ Retirement System and meet certain requirements to purchase credits toward their total pension years of service for time previously worked as per diem nurses, and to allow 911 dispatchers, supervisors and coordinators to move from the Miscellaneous Plans to the Miscellaneous Safety Plan for compensation those employees earn on and after January 4, 2025.

Con:

Opponents argue that Proposition I would allow the City's "per diem" registered nurses, i.e. those who currently or in the past have elected to work flexible schedules as temps (without pension benefits), to become full-time nurses with the city. It also switches the pension plan for the City's emergency response 911 dispatchers from the current one to the higher-paying one used for firemen and police. The rationale seems to be that they're all emergency services, even if the risks faced in dealing with fires and guns aren't quite the same as those involved in answering the phones.

A NO vote on this measure means: you do not want to make these changes.

In Depth

A “per diem nurse” is a Registered Nurse employed by the City on an occasional and temporary basis. Since 1988, per diem nurses have not been members of SFERS and do not receive any pension service credit for the hours they work on a per diem basis. Proposition I would allow eligible Registered Nurses to purchase service credit for hours they worked on a per diem basis. Registered Nurses who are or become members of SFERS and have worked an average of 32 hours or more per week for at least one year could purchase up to three years of service credit for time they previously worked solely as per diem nurses for the City before they became members of SFERS.

Proposition I would also move 911 dispatchers, supervisors and coordinators from the Miscellaneous Plans to the Miscellaneous Safety Plan for compensation those employees earn on and after January 4, 2025. As members of the Miscellaneous Safety Plan, these employees would be required to pay an increased amount into the pension plan and would receive increased pension benefits at retirement. In general, retirees receive greater pension benefits under the Safety Plans and the Miscellaneous Safety Plan than they do under the Miscellaneous Plans.

Source: Final Digest - Retirement Benefits for Nurses and 911 Operators

Voter Resources

City and County of San Francisco Office of Elections