PROTECT
Protect our member organizations in regard to current issues
and issues that we see developing in the future.
1.
Tax Issues:
a) Monitor and
proactively engage in any legislative or regulatory effort to
restructure or change the tax codes in North Carolina in the best
interest of the green industry.
2.
Protect current funding for the Center for Turfgrass
Environmental Research and Education (CENTERE) at
NCSU.
3.
Labor Issues/Immigration Reform:
a) Monitor and evaluate
any legislation related to immigration and labor issues at the
state and federal level that may impact the North Carolina
Green Industry.
b) Monitor and support
efforts by NCFB/AFB (North Carolina Farm Bureau/American Farm
Bureau) ANLA (American Nursery and Landscape Association),
PLANET( Professional Lawn Care Network), SAF (Society of American
Florists) or other national green industry trade associations to
lobbying for or introduce comprehensive immigration reform or other
measures that would incrementally move reform efforts
forward.
4.
Water Rights and Allocation:
a) Monitor and
proactively engage in any discussion or efforts to change water
policies in North Carolina.
b) Monitor and
proactively engage in any water or related regulatory efforts by
the EMC or ERC that may impact the green industry.
c) Continue to provide
lobbying support in support the irrigation contractor
license.
d) Build on our
relationships with the League of Municipalities and individual
municipalities as we move forward with pilot programs and our
consumer education programs on water use efficiency.
e) Continue to
participate as a stakeholder in the Ag Water Policy Working
Group.
5.
Monitor any legislation at both the state and federal
level involving;
a) Pesticide
regulations
b) Invasive plants
c) Plant disease regulations
d) Federal Crop Insurance
c) Energy policy
d) Employee benefits
e) Health care
f) Estate tax
g) EPA Sustainable Sites Initiative
h) Carbon emissions
(Federal monitoring will be
based on our involvement with our national associations, our
partners at the NC Farm Bureau, NCDA and others. )
6.
Remain vigilant of any other issues or legislation
that could cause hardship to the North Carolina green
industry.
PROMOTE
Promote and introduce legislation that will move the green
industry forward in creating a more professional image of the
industry, promoting business, jobs and the environmental benefits
of what the green industry provides in goods and services.
1.
Practice Act for Landscape Contractors:
a) Promote passage of
SB 447
b) Identify bill
sponsors and work to pass the legislation in this session.
2.
Amendments to current Irrigation Contractors
Licenses:
a)
Promote passage of SB 405
b)
Complete technical amendments to SB 405
c)
Identify bill sponsors and work to pass amendments in this
session.
3.
Seek funding and technical support to introduce
legislation addressing the installation and testing of cross
connection control devices (backflow prevention devices) by NC
licensed irrigation contractors.
4.
Oppose SB 562-Standards for Some Nursery Stock
Purchases
a. The North Carolina
Green Industry Council supports its member association NCNLA (the
North Carolina Nursery and Landscape Association in opposition to
this legislation).
5. Promotion of Green
Industry Goods and Services:
a) Continue to seek
funding for promotion of the North Carolina green industry to help
it recover from the current economic conditions and expand to offer
new jobs and business opportunities.
6.
Introduce and promote legislation to advance the
sustainability efforts of the green industry of North
Carolina:
a) Monitor and promote
potential energy tax credit certification programs such as
the "Energy Saving Landscapes" initiative currently
underway.
b) Promote "The
Authentic Green" specialty license plate to green industry
businesses and consumers state wide and by so doing help fund the
ongoing efforts of the NC GIC to promote water conservation and
efficiency.
c) Smart irrigation
month/seek recognition for July as Smart Irrigation Month for
2012.
d) Continue efforts to
promote outdoor water efficiency pilot program such as Liquid
Assets.
e) Look for
opportunities to introduce and promote tree planting programs to
enhance communities, promote jobs and business for the green
industry and to improve the air quality of our state.
PARTNER
Work to build partnerships with other organizations, agencies,
federal, state and local representatives.
1. Continue to lend
our strategic support to NCSU, NCA&T, NCDA and our member
associations.
2. Continue to develop
strong relationships with our state and local legislators and
federal delegation.