SMALL BUSINESS COMMISSION TO HEAR AMMIANO HEALTH CARE PROPOSAL DECEMBER 12

From the San Francisco Small Business Commission

December 12, 2005, 5:30 p.m.

The City of San Francisco's Small Business Commission (SBC) on Monday, December 12 will hear Supervisor Tom Ammiano's proposed Health Care Security Act that was introduced on November 22. The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. in 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 with 20 or more employees to pay a fee to provide health benefits for their employees that work 80 hours or more per month. The legislation first calls for a Board appointed seven-member Task Force to study the amount of the fee for health care, as well as an additional fee to pay for the administration of the new law. This is the first SBC hearing on the proposal since the legislation was introduced.

This meeting will be the first Small Business Commission meeting to be broadcasted live on SFGTV, San Francisco Cable Channel 26. This is in due part to SBC's effort to reach out to the City's small business constituents who are unable to attend the meetings. "Televising our meetings is only the first of a series of public outreach efforts the Commission will be undertaking over the next year," states Executive Director, Agnes Briones Ubalde, " Supervisor Ammiano's proposed healthcare legislation is just one of many critical pieces of legislation affecting the small business community, and we want to provide a portal for education, awareness and relevant input."

The seven-member Chartered Small Business Commission (SBC) was established to respond and advocate for the needs of small business. The SBC functions as the city's central point of information and referral for small business located in the City and County of San Francisco. By championing "business friendly" policies, the SBC works to support and enhance an environment where small businesses can succeed and flourish.

For more information, contact Agnes Briones Ubalde 415- 554-6101.

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