Items of Interest

Grant to provide FREE Electrical Hazards Awareness Program
TCIA has been awarded a federal OSHA/Susan Harwood grant to provide FREE* Electrical Hazards Awareness Program workshops in 2008, allowing professionals around the country to be trained in electrical hazards awareness at no cost. EHAP workshops allow large groups to be trained and fulfill many of the program’s requirements in one day.

EHAP from TCIA is a training program that employers can use in conjunction with documented on-the-job skills training and assessment to certify their employees as line-clearance arborists while meeting OSHA and ANSI safety requirements for arboricultural operations.

A free workshop will be held on April 30, 2008 at Mid State Technical College Auditorium in Wisconsin Rapids, WI. All necessary EHAP program materials will be provided at no cost. For more information about the EHAP program, visit www.tcia.org and click on the Safety tab, or call TCIA at 1-800-733-2622.

*A nominal fee may be charged for lunch and refreshments, depending upon arrangements made with the local host.

We Need Your Help:
Senate and Assembly Elect New leaders after the fall election: The Senate and Assembly have elected new leadership, with Democrats controlling the Senate and Republications controlling the Assembly. To identify your representative, see http://www.legis.state.wi.us/

Update on Federal Budget for Urban & Community Forests
$31.1 million for the Urban and Community Forestry Programs for fiscal year 2008. Your advocacy continues to be critical to the outcome of the 2008 budget.

ANSI Update
Revisions for the Pruning A300 and Pruning BMP are expected in the first half of 2008.

ANSI Z133
The next meeting of ASC Z133 (Arboriculture Safety Standard Committee) will be 4/22/08. For more information, call Peggy Currid, ASC Z133 Secretariat, at ISA (217) 355-9411 Ext. 210 or e-mail pcurrid@isa-arbor.com

AB-341 
Relating to changing the time when impact fees from developers for acquiring public park land, dedicating storm water treatment facilities to the public must be used. Approved by the Governor on 1-4-08 as Wisconsin Act 44.

SB-297 
Authorizes DATCP to change by rule the annual license fees for nursery growers, nursery dealers, and Christmas tree growers. Public hearing held 12-05-07. Approved, signed by the Governor on 3-5-08 as Wisconsin Act 62.

AB-181 (2007)
An Act to create 443.015 of the statutes; relating to: continuing education for architects, landscape architects, professional engineers, designers of engineering systems, and land surveyors. Approved, signed by the Governor on 2-8-08.

Senate Bill-1717 (EAB Funding)
Proposal has not gotten to a vote. The legislation was first introduced in June as an EAB-specific bill (S.1717) and was later modified to include all invasive species. It would create a low-interest revolving loan fund for communities for the purchase of capital equipment, contractual work, and for replacement trees within the quarantine areas. In addition, the bill would allow states to contract with local units of government to perform EAB duties. The fund would be administered through the US Forest Service. It was recently included in the Senate version of the Farm Bill. Please call or write your Representative explaining what EAB or other invasive pest threat might mean to you. Ask them to “accept the language establishing the Invasive Species Revolving Loan Fund in the Senate version of the Farm Bill.”

Chapter NR 40-Invasive Species
WDNR held listening sessions in January 2008. Proposed rules to regulate a specific list of invasive species are now available online. The purpose of these rules is to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species in the state. The next public comment period is expected to be later this summer during the formal rule-making process.

AB-667
Relating to: requiring a license to engage in the practice of landscape architecture. 02-20-08 Public hearing held. Did not get out of Assembly Industry and Labor committee.

SB-197 Fertilizer Bill
Relating to: restrictions on the use and sale of fertilizer containing phosphorus and other lawn fertilizer and providing a penalty. Amended in the Senate and referred to committee on Natural Resources. Public Hearing 2-12-08. Did not get taken up by Assembly before the session ended.

SB -248
Authorizing the creation of local park districts referred to Committee on Environment and Natural Resources (Senate). An amendment to include urban forestry grants is supported by DNR and UFC. Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1.
 
SB-454
Was referred to the Senate calendar of March 4, 2008 relating to: the transportation of invasive species on highways and providing a penalty. Failed to concur in pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1.

SB-482
Relating to: requiring a license to engage in the practice of landscape architecture. SB-482 was referred to committee on Labor, Elections and Urban Affairs in the Senate on 02-12-08. Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1.

AB-784
Authorizing the creation of local park districts, authorizing a local park district to levy a property tax, authorizing a local park district to apply for funding from certain programs administered by the DNR, and authorizing a local park district to impose impact fees and issue dept. Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1.

AB-836
Act to create 20.115(7) (i) and 94.697 of the statures; relating to: pesticide use by railroads, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1.