SF5051

Purpose

• Establish a formal policy for preventing and removing graffiti on properties maintained by the Department of Transportation (DOT).
• Improve coordination and use of best practices to reduce graffiti-related issues on state transportation property.

Main Provisions

• Policy Development and Implementation

  • The DOT must develop and put into effect a graffiti abatement policy for its properties.
  • The policy should outline steps to prevent graffiti and to remove it when it occurs.

• Consultation and Best Practices

  • In creating the policy, the DOT must consult with organizations and individuals experienced in graffiti abatement.
  • Eligible consultants include local governments, law enforcement, regional planning agencies, and business improvement associations.

• High-Priority Properties

  • The policy must identify and designate high-priority properties for abatement.
  • Criteria include areas with a high volume of graffiti complaints, high public visibility, frequent graffiti targets, and other reasons the commissioner deems important.
  • The DOT must maintain a list of these high-priority properties, recording the type of abatement measures used and the dates those measures were taken.

• Abatement Requirements and Timeframes

  • The policy must specify best practices for preventing and removing graffiti.
  • It must lay out a process to identify and designate high-priority properties.
  • It must set minimum timeframes for abating graffiti on high-priority properties and on other properties.

• Reporting

  • By February 1, 2027 and every year after, the DOT must report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over transportation policy and finance.
  • Each report must include:
  • The most recent version of the graffiti abatement policy.
  • The list of high-priority properties and the abatement measures taken on those properties.
  • An assessment of areas for improvement in graffiti maintenance and the challenges in making those improvements.

Significant Changes to Law

• Creates a formal, codified graffiti abatement policy for DOT properties, including a defined process, high-priority property criteria, and required abatement timelines.
• Establishes a recurring annual reporting obligation to the legislature, increasing transparency and accountability for graffiti prevention and abatement on state transportation property.
• Requires documented consultation with expert partners and a publicly maintained list of high-priority properties with abatement actions and dates.

Implementation and Scope

• Scope: Applies specifically to properties maintained by the Department of Transportation.
• Timeline: Initial reporting requirement by February 1, 2027, with annual reports thereafter.

Relevant Terms - graffiti abatement policy - Department of Transportation (DOT) - high-priority properties - abatement measures - best practices - consultation - local governments - law enforcement - regional planning agencies - business improvement associations - timeframes for abatement - reporting - Minnesota Statutes chapter 174