Prior to this legislation, the Fiscal Years (FYs) 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 Annual Salary Ordinance did not include grant-funded positions for the Organized Retail Theft Vertical Prosecution Grant Program.

The ordinance amends the Annual Salary Ordinance for FYs 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 to add one full-time equivalent (FTE) position in Class 8177 Attorney-Civil/Criminal and one full-time equivalent position in Class 8550 District Attorney’s Investigator-SFERS, funded by a grant from the State of California Board of State and Community Corrections.

The acceptance and expenditure of the grant will support the Organized Retail Theft Vertical Prosecution Program by addressing increased levels of retail theft using a vertical prosecution model, funding two new positions, and implementing a Local Evaluation Plan to assess the program's effectiveness.

The grant was awarded to support the Organized Retail Theft Vertical Prosecution Grant Program, which was established in the State Budget Act of 2022 to address growing concerns over retail theft and property crimes.

The Office of the District Attorney is authorized to accept and expend the grant on behalf of the City and County of San Francisco. It is also responsible for adhering to the grant agreement's terms and conditions, completing a Local Evaluation Plan, and submitting a Local Evaluation Report and financial audit by specified deadlines.

The District Attorney's Office must abide by the conditions set forth by the grant, execute a Local Evaluation Plan, submit a Local Evaluation Report by June 1, 2027, and conduct a financial audit covering the grant service delivery period.