[PCA] LEGLISLATION: Maryland Native Plants for Pollinators bill

[Olivia Kwong]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Carol Jelich" <jrj_csj at mindspring.com>
Date: 01/30/2008 06:25 PM
Subject: [Pollinator] Maryland Native Plants for Pollinators bill

If you live in Maryland, you could contact your state delegate to support 
House Bill 208.  The bill has not yet been introduced in the State Senate 
-- perhaps you know a state senator who could be persuaded to sponsor it.

There is a hearing on February 6 at 1 pm in Annapolis.

Here is the link:

http://mlis.state.md.us/2008rs/billfile/hb0208.htm

Here is some language from the bill (on the web page, scroll down and
click on "First Reading" to see complete text):

FOR the purpose of establishing the Maryland Native Plants Program for
certain purposes; requiring the Department of Agriculture to increase 
awareness of native plants and provide certain grants under the Program; 
requiring the Governor to include a certain appropriation for the Program 
in the State budget for certain fiscal years; and generally relating to 
increasing the availability of seed and nursery stock for certain native 
plants.

Preamble

WHEREAS, Pollinators are in precipitous decline around the world; and
WHEREAS, Nearly 80% of the world's crop plants require pollination; and
WHEREAS, One of the obstacles to protecting and improving pollinator
habitat is a chronic shortage of native plants, including seed and nursery 
stock for native plants; now, therefore,

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the 
Laws of Maryland read as follows:

((B) THERE IS A MARYLAND NATIVE PLANTS PROGRAM WHICH IS ESTABLISHED IN THE 
DEPARTMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF INCREASING THE AVAILABILITY OF SEED AND 
NURSERY STOCK FOR NATIVE PLANTS THAT ARE POLLINATOR FRIENDLY.

(C) UNDER THE PROGRAM, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL:
(1) INCREASE AWARENESS AMONG NURSERIES AND LAND MANAGERS OF NATIVE PLANTS; 
AND

(2) PROVIDE GRANTS TO INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF SEED AND NURSERY STOCK 
FOR NATIVE PLANTS.

(D) THE GOVERNOR SHALL INCLUDE IN THE ANNUAL STATE BUDGET FOR EACH FISCAL 
YEAR BEGINNING WITH FISCAL YEAR 2010 AN

APPROPRIATION OF $150,000 FOR THE PROGRAM.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 
October 1, 2008.