Nursery license consolidation adopted

Senators passed a bill May 2 that updates provisions in the Plant Protection and Plant Pest Act.

Currently, there are three categories of commercial nursery licenses under the act: growers, dealers and brokers. LB68, introduced by Ogallala Sen. Ken Schilz, consolidates all three types of licenses into a single nursery stock distributor license.

LB68 also changes existing fee schedules due to the creation of the new license. Applicants seeking a Nursery Stock Distributor license will be charged $115 for the first acre and $5 for each additional acre. The state Department of Agriculture is authorized to adjust fees to a maximum of $140 for the first acre and $6 for each additional acre. This is an increase from a $100 fee, regardless of size.

The bill also includes a number of additional provisions, some of which include:
• a license expiration date of Dec. 31 and a renewal date of Jan. 1, with application fees due at the time of renewal;
• the addition of botanically classified hardy plants to the existing definition of nursery stock;
• an increase of the maximum administrative fine for any violation of the act from $500 to $1000; and
• a liability of the person in violation of the act for any costs incurred by the department in the enforcement of quarantines and withdrawal orders.

The bill passed on a 41-0 vote.