SUBSTANCE ABUSE SCREENING, EVALUATION, AND TREATMENT.
SF Administrative Code § 20.7-26.5
in effectSEC. 20.7-26.5. SUBSTANCE ABUSE SCREENING, EVALUATION, AND TREATMENT.
(a) Screening. The Department shall require all adult Recipients of aid under the General Assistance, PAES, CALM, or SSIP Program to undergo screening for substance abuse when it is determined by the Department that there is reasonable suspicion to believe that an individual is dependent upon illegal drugs. The Department shall document all findings of reasonable suspicion.
(b) Professional Evaluation. Where the screening process set forth in subsection (a) indicates that there is reason to believe that a Recipient is abusing or dependent on illegal drugs, such Recipient shall undergo a professional evaluation for substance abuse. The professional evaluation may be performed by the Department, the Department of Public Health, or by an entity funded by the City to perform this function, subject to the Charter’s restrictions regarding contracting for personal services.
(c) Treatment. Recipients who are professionally evaluated and determined to need treatment for substance abuse shall be referred to a treatment program determined to meet their rehabilitation needs, and shall be required to participate in the treatment program upon referral, provided the program services are actually available at the time of referral and are at no charge to the individual.
(d) Violations. It shall be a violation of this Section 20.7-26.5 for a Recipient to fail to comply with the screening, evaluation, and/or treatment requirements set forth in subsections (a), (b), and (c) without good cause. Recipients whose aid is discontinued for violation of this Section 20.7-26.5 shall continue to receive housing assistance for 30 days from the effective date of the notice of discontinuance. For purposes of this subsection (d), “housing assistance” means eligible, verified rent expenses and guaranteed access to in-kind shelter and meal services. The Department may extend an individual’s eligibility for housing assistance beyond 30 days provided the Department finds that such extension is necessary to prevent eviction.
(e) Rules and Regulations. Pursuant to Section 20.7-5, the Executive Director may establish rules and regulations to administer and enforce this Section 20.7-26.5, including but not limited to rules and regulations to:
(1) establish categorical exemptions from screening, evaluation, and treatment requirements relating to illegal drug use where necessary or appropriate to prioritize the allocation of scarce treatment resources and/or ensure that Recipients are not required to participate in multiple activities at the same time; and
(2) establish standards governing determinations relating to a Recipient’s need for an extension of housing assistance beyond 30 days to prevent eviction.
(f) Amendments by the Board of Supervisors. This Section 20.7-26.5 may be amended by the Board of Supervisors by a supermajority vote of eight or more members.
(Added by Proposition F, 3/5/2024, Eff. 4/12/2024, Oper. 1/1/2025)
Source: City and County of San Francisco, Charter and Municipal Codes (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/san_francisco/latest/sf_admin/0-0-0-69995Fetched: 11/1/2026