HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

102

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 


HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO CONVENE AN ANTI-GRAFFITI TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ADDRESS EDUCATION AND PREVENTION, ENFORCEMENT, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, LEGISLATION, AND GRAFFITI REMOVAL.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, graffiti vandalism has grown from an exclusively big city or urban concern to a problem that affects all communities; and

 

     WHEREAS, graffiti vandals have caused more than $1,000,000,000 of damage on public and private property nationwide; and

 

     WHEREAS, in Hawaii, graffiti vandals are elusive and city and county police generally apprehend individuals suspected of graffiti only when they stake out a specific area or, more commonly, when a witness calls 911; and

 

WHEREAS, graffiti vandals may use social media to showcase their acts of vandalism to a nationwide audience, which has led to a recent increase of graffiti vandalism in Hawaii, according to a Department of Public Safety official; and

 

     WHEREAS, while anti-graffiti legislation should be one part of Hawaii's comprehensive approach to eradicating or containing the problem of graffiti vandalism, other elements should include education and prevention, enforcement, community involvement, and graffiti removal; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2014, the Senate concurring, that the State Attorney General is requested to convene an anti-graffiti task force to develop recommendations that address education and prevention, enforcement, community involvement, legislation, and graffiti removal; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be chaired by the Attorney General, or the Attorney General's designee, and comprise:

 

     (1)  The Director of Public Safety, or the director's designee;

 

     (2)  The Superintendent of Education, or the Superintendent's designee;

 

     (3)  The Executive Director of the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts or the Executive Director's designee;

 

     (4)  The President of the Senate, or the President's designee;

 

     (5)  The Speaker of the House of Representatives, or the Speaker's designee;

 

     (6)  A representative from the Judiciary appointed by the Chief Justice; and

 

     (7)  A police chief from one of the four counties, or the chief's designee; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force should consider, among other things:

 

     (1)  Developing definitions for graffiti and graffiti-related implements to aid in drafting legislation;

 

     (2)  Developing anti-graffiti programs in schools and promoting youth diversion activities that encourage artistic expression through a lawful medium;

 

     (3)  Controlling access to aerosol spray paint containers and other items that may be used for graffiti by requiring retailers to display and store these items in monitored locations;

 

     (4)  Requiring retailers who sell items that may be used for graffiti to post signage educating customers about the graffiti law;

 

     (5)  Developing legislation to assist law enforcement and judicial agencies in reducing graffiti vandalism;

 

     (6)  Partnering with communities to establish graffiti hotlines and graffiti removal teams; and

 

     (7)  Determining the amount spent on graffiti removal at schools and public spaces; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to submit a report, authored by the State Department of the Attorney General with consultation from representatives of the retail industry and community graffiti clean-up groups, that addresses the problem of graffiti vandalism in Hawaii, and provides findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2015; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Attorney General; Director of Public Safety; Superintendent of Education; Executive Director of the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts; President of the Senate; Speaker of the House of Representatives; Chief Justice of the Hawaii Supreme Court; the police chiefs of the Hawaii Police Department, Honolulu Police Department, Kauai Police Department, and Maui Police Department; and the chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Retail Merchants of Hawaii.

Report Title: 

Anti-Graffiti; Task Force