This past weeks legislative meeting for House Bill 3182, which was held on July 10, 2007, on Beacon Hill was a clarion call on the importance of the New England chapter of APLD. Through Laura Kuhn's efforts, combined with those of our membership, the bills sponsor,  Representative Joseph Driscoll, started out his testimony by acknowledging that the bill had potential (and unintended) adverse consequences for the landscape design profession. Rep. Driscoll went on to say that it was never any intent of the bill to have a negative effect on the landscape design profession and that they would work with us to add a 'friendly amendment' so the scope of our work is never impacted.

Rep. Driscoll than gave his testimony speaking as to why the bill was being proposed and testimony was then given by several engineers who were in support of the bill. Following their testimonies, both Chairpersons acknowledged that they had heard from the landscape design industry and were concerned about the bills impact on us. Diane Wilkerson, chairman of the joint committee, was quick to point out that she was well aware that there is full opposition to the bill by landscape designers and reaffirmed that there was never any intent to have a negative effect on the landscape design profession.

The discussion quickly moved to outside the hearing room where Rep. Driscoll and his staff listened to landscape designers comments and "unofficial" testimony regarding the bill.  Our own Laura Kuhn took this opportunity to represent APLDNE and state our oppositions to the bill and how although not it's intend, it DOES as written have potential negative impact on our profession.  Laura's command of the issues, and the bills ramification were impressive.  Thank you to Laura and everyone else who wrote letters, sent email, or called to voice their concerns regarding this bill.

Rep. Driscoll and his staff has since sent out an e-mail to several Landscape Designers.  Click here to view Abbie Goodman's email to Landscape Designers.