[Pollinator] Maryland Native Plants for Pollinators bill

[Carol Jelich]

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.