Landscape Architect Articles

LASN Licensure/Legislation August 200408-01-04 | News

Regulatory Reform for Fees

U.S. Senate wing of Capitol

Legislation currently before the Senate Rules Committee was initially slated to eliminate the separate landscape architects?EUR??,,????'??? account in the state general fund and create in its place the Business and Professions Account for receipts from business, professional licenses, registrations, certifications, renewals, examinations or civil penalties. Expenditures out of this account could only be spent for carrying out licensing activities and exempts the fees from these activities from the state law limiting fee increases to no greater than the fiscal growth factor for that fiscal year. However, the House Appropriations Committee amended the legislation prior to sending it back to the Senate. They deleted that exemption. If it passes the Senate with their amendment there will no longer be an exemption, and the existing state law limiting fee increases to no greater than the fiscal growth factor would remain in effect.

Growing Greener Bond Act Introduced

Representative Camille ?EUR??,,????'??Bud?EUR??,,????'?? George was among the Pennsylvania state legislators who introduced the Growing Greener Bond Act to be placed on the November 2004 ballot to authorize the state to incur $800 million of indebtedness for environmental initiatives, natural resource conservation, agricultural land preservation and community revitalization. If approved, the Commonwealth would be authorized to incur additional indebtedness, not to exceed $800 million, of which $330 million would be spent for parks, open space, farmland preservation and the improvement of facilities for the Pennsylvania Game commission. Up to $300 million would be spent for environmental cleanup and up to $170 million would be spent for revitalization of communities. It was referred to the House Finance Committee.

Watershed Storm Water Act Approved

Representative David Steil

The Comprehensive Watershed Storm Water Act introduced by Pennsylvania Representative David Steil, among others, was amended on the House Floor, and passed. The act establishes the act which enables counties and municipalities to develop a comprehensive watershed management plan to regulate storm water within designated watershed boundaries. If counties choose to develop such a plan, responsibility would lie with the county to implement and maintain the storm water system. Approval with respect to state land would be from the appropriate state agency. Expansion of the advisory committee to include other agencies and groups is permitted. The legislation also provides for use of a common design flow standard and imposes duties and powers on DEP and the environmental quality board. The bill passed 153 in favor, 46 opposed.

–––––––––

18,910 – Number of landscape architects in the United States in 2003.

26.39 – Mean hourly wage of landscape architects in 2003.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics