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Florida Chapter ASLA Trustee Report - February 2012

One, not so small legislative victory for FLASLA Good morning FLASLA Members. By now, many of you may have heard the positive news out of the Capitol regarding PCB HB 5005 [PDF]. On March 24, 2011 the House Economic Affairs Committee voted to approve PCB HB 5005; as approved, PCB HB 5005 does not include the deregulation of landscape architecture in Florida. Heeding the call to action and through a concerted effort, in conjunction with our legislative affairs team Rutledge, Ecenia, & Purnell, P.A., FLASLA and its members we were able to overcome a potentially damaging piece of legislation.

Have you heard the news? Good morning FLASLA Members! Have you heard the recent news out of the Capitol? Late Tuesday, March 23, 2011 the Government Affairs Committee received word from the staff director of Business and Professional Affairs notifying us that landscape architects will be removed from HB 5005, thus avoiding deregulation of landscape architecture in Florida. We are on the cusp of a potentially momentous occasion as each of you heeded the call to action and advocated on behalf of the profession. The House Economic Affairs Committee will be voting on the revised bill Thursday and FLASLA will notify the membership when this has occurred and deregulation has officially been averted.

Keep Advocating!! Our efforts continued throughout the day yesterday with at least another 3,000 touches to state legislators advocating for the continued regulation of Landscape Architecture in Florida. Now is not the time to rest on our laurels - we have a long road until a motion to adjourn is called that would conclude the 2011 legislative session, otherwise known as sine die.

Have you answered the call? Landscape Architects across the state are currently reaching out to their legislators. Today nearly 100 Landscape Architects answered the call to action - resulting in over 2,000 emails and phone calls to their legislators. Have you? Please take the time to advocate on behalf of professional regulation for Landscape Architecture. Without your voice, our message will not be heard. Even if your legislators do not sit on either of these committees, please reach out to them now and let them know how you feel - let your Representative know that you strongly oppose HB 5005 and let the Senate know that you strongly oppose the deregulation of Landscape Architecture should a companion bill surface. The Chapter and profession request your support.

Florida ASLA Members and Landscape Architects need to take action now! On Tuesday, March 15, 2011 the House Subcommittee on Business & Consumer Affairs approved Proposed Committee Bill PCB BCAS 11-01 which seeks to deregulate Landscape Architecture in Florida. The Subcommittee has referred the as of yet unnumbered bill to the House Economic Affairs Committee and Senate Committee on Regulated Industries. Today, March, 16, 2011, you must contact your legislators to inform them that you oppose deregulation of Landscape Architecture in Florida.

Dear Landscape Architect, Your License is in Jeopardy We are facing a crisis with licensure and de-regulation here in the State of Florida. We have three days to respond and contact our legislature for the most affect on this next committee. Each committee member needs to hear from one and all; there is power in numbers. Please look for email blasts coming out first thing in the morning which will explain everything you need to know. We will need your help in contacting Representatives and Senators on certain committees by phone AND by written word. We also will need your help contacting licensed but non-ASLA members as we have no email data base for them. The Chapter's web site will contain all the information. Personal relationships with any legislators should be used to express our concern. Please contact Shawn Kalbli, ASLA, Government Affairs Committee, Chair immediately and advise him of your relationship. Kenn Bates, ASLA Florida Chapter President