Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation and Government Operations, to which was referred S.R. No. 96 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Transportation to paint over graffiti along any state-owned thoroughfares, rights-of-way, or easements within its jurisdiction within ten business days.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Honolulu Police Department.

Your Committee finds that in addition to being unsightly, graffiti undermines community development, especially efforts aimed at bringing in new businesses and attracting revitalizing investments. If graffiti markings are not removed quickly, the affected areas may be more prone to subsequent acts of graffiti, vandalism, and violence, based upon the recognition and competition that often exists between graffiti offenders.

Your Committee has amended this measure upon the request of the DOT to delete the reference to ten days and to substitute "as soon as possible," on the grounds that ten days is onerous and impractical, given the amount of graffiti and the availability of personnel at any given time.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 96, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 96, S.D. 1.