Hawaii House Bill HB2592

Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/24/24
• Refer: 1/26/24

Caption

Relating To Graffiti.

Impact

In addition to the graffiti removal requirement, the bill mandates that sentenced individuals perform community service for up to two years. Specifically, they are expected to remove any graffiti that appears on adjacent properties within a two hundred fifty-yard radius of the original offense. In cases where government agencies lack the resources to supervise these removals, offenders can instead be mandated to complete one hundred hours of community service.

Summary

House Bill 2592 aims to amend the existing penalties related to graffiti in the state of Hawaii. The bill introduces mandatory sentencing guidelines for offenses that involve graffiti, specifically targeting offenders who cause damage. Under this bill, individuals convicted of graffiti-related offenses will be required to remove the graffiti from the damaged property within thirty days. This requirement is contingent upon obtaining consent from property owners and ensuring that the removal does not endanger the person or the public.

Contention

A key feature of HB 2592 allows counties to enact their own ordinances imposing enhanced penalties for graffiti in designated areas. This aspect introduces a layer of flexibility for local governments, letting them respond more specifically to community needs regarding graffiti vandalism. However, if counties choose to implement such ordinances, they will supersede the state-mandated sentencing requirements detailed in this bill, which could lead to disparities in how graffiti offenses are penalized across different regions of Hawaii.