Hawaii Senate Bill SB2455

Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/19/24
• Refer: 1/22/24

Caption

Related To Graffiti.

Impact

The task force will be structured under the Department of Law Enforcement and will include various stakeholders, such as county police chiefs, prosecutors, and community organization representatives. Its primary responsibility will be to devise effective strategies and solutions to mitigate graffiti, drawing on successful practices from other jurisdictions. The task force is expected to present a comprehensive strategic plan to the legislature by January 2025, outlining actionable insights and legislative recommendations to enhance graffiti reduction efforts across the state.

Summary

SB2455 proposes the establishment of a Graffiti Task Force aimed at tackling the persistent issue of graffiti in Hawaii. Despite existing local, state, and federal laws, graffiti remains a significant concern, leading to increased maintenance and repair costs for public and private properties. The bill cites the considerable financial implications of graffiti, including an estimated annual cost of around $15 million nationwide, which underscores the need for targeted intervention strategies at the state and local levels.

Contention

Given the financial allocation of $50,000 from the general fund to implement this initiative, SB2455 has implications concerning state budget considerations. This appropriation, while seen as necessary to combat graffiti, raises questions regarding the management of state resources and the prioritization of funds in the legislative process. The temporality of the task force, which is set to disband on June 30, 2025, may also lead to concerns about the sustainability and long-term effectiveness of the solutions it proposes, prompting debates on the necessity of making the task force a more permanent fixture if successful.