Pest Management Professional, June 2014

INSURANCE CONTRACTS HEAT SPRAY TRAINING ENCASE SECTION BU TRAP SPECIAL PRICING BED G ISOLATE VACUUM FUMIGATE DETECT STEAM FREEZE EXCLUDE MONITOR COMMUNICATION COOPERATION Legislation Patrick Mahoney Contributor R ecent U S state and local statutes are beginning to reflect how legislatures are waging war against the resurgence of bed bugs So far Hawaii 2006 Kansas 2007 Virginia 2009 Illinois 2010 Maine 2010 2011 New York 2010 2011 Arizona 2011 Maryland Oregon and Wisconsin 2013 have enacted legislation Few of these laws target pest management professionals PMPs directly but landlords and other property managers instead Last year was a watershed year for bed bug related regulation at the state and local levels The nations first canine scent pest detection team legislation was adopted by the Maryland Department of Agriculture San Francisco and Chicago also adopted their own new bed bug ordinances Wisconsins new law covers all pest infestations in multifamily housing The impetus for Wisconsins legislation bed bug infestations Arizonas revised codes declare the following as public nuisances dangerous to the public health The presence of ectoparasites such as bed bugs lice mites and others in any place where sleeping accommodations are offered to the public Hawaiis resolution instructs the Department of Health to work with the state tourism liaison and the Hawaii Hotel Lodging Association to raise bed bug awareness Illinois Compiled Laws states No owner or operator of a railroad shall permit any railroad car to be dispatched for the transportation of or occupation by passengers unless such cars is sic in a clean and sanitary condition and is sic free from cockroaches body lice bedbugs and other vermin Referring to guestrooms Kansas law specifies all infestations must be treated by a licensed pest control operator PCO According to Maines beefier legislation before renting a dwelling unit a landlord must disclose to a prospective tenant if any adjacent units are infested with or are being treated for bedbugs Maryland law mandates that no one may operate a pest control business using a canine scent pest detection team to detect pests unless both are trained according to the requirements of the regulation and the business is licensed and certified Recent legislation in New Hampshire makes this declaration The general court hereby finds that bed bug infestations in buildings across New Hampshire cause measurable economic loss to property owners and occupants as well as significant physical and emotional suffering to occupants The lack of remediation of bed bug infestations increases the spread of the pest as occupants move from one building to another and declares that the public interest requires that reasonable measures be taken to promote prompt and effective remediation The 2013 Bugs Without Borders Survey further illustrates the growing concern It reveals 996 percent of pest management companies encountered at least one bed bug infestation in 2013 and suggests bed buginfestation calls are more frequent during summer Almost half of respondents reported infestations occurred most often in summer and least often in winter Seventy six percent said bed bugs are the most difficult pest to control According to two thirds of respondents the biggest customer related challenge reported by pest management companies is uncleared clutter followed by customers who dont take advice 58 percent and reinfestation 16 percent PMP Mahoney is a PMP contributor You can reach him at word maker@ hotmail com BB9 June 2014 Pest Management Professional www mypmp net Photo istock com DNY59 Throwing the Book at Bed Bugs