City and County of San Francisco: merchandising sales.

Senator Wiener's legislation authorizes the City and County of San Francisco to establish a permit system for merchandise sales on public property, aiming to address patterns of retail theft through targeted regulation of commonly stolen goods. The proposed system would require vendors to demonstrate lawful acquisition of merchandise, with permits administered by a designated local agency separate from law enforcement.

The legislation creates a graduated enforcement structure, beginning with written warnings for first violations and escalating to potential misdemeanor charges for repeated infractions within 18 months. Permit fees would be capped at reasonable administrative costs, with reduced $25 fees available to low-income applicants and public assistance recipients. The permitting agency must accept alternative forms of identification and cannot inquire about immigration status or criminal history.

Prior to implementing any ordinance under this authority, San Francisco must document previous non-enforcement interventions, conduct public workshops, and launch a multilingual information campaign. Annual reports to the Board of Supervisors and Legislature would detail permit issuance, enforcement actions, and demographic data. The authorization expires in 2031, requiring the city to demonstrate ongoing necessity through annual findings and oversight reports.