PA SPAR - Marty Overline Testifies on Philadelphia Bed Bug Bill

Marty Overline of Aardvark Pest Management did an excellent job testifying before the Philadelphia City Council’s Licensing and Inspection Committee regarding a landlord-tenant bed bug bill on Tuesday, October 22, 2019. Marty shared his expertise on bed bugs and structural pest management and answered many questions from curious City Councilmembers. He represented our industry well and offered to share NPMA’s bed bug BMPs with the Committee to help them understand the best ways to manage bed bugs. The bill became more controversial on the day of the hearing as an amendment was added late that would require landlords and tenants to split the cost of treatment after 90 days. On a basic level, the bill closely resembles the Colorado and Connecticut bed bug laws with the requirement that only a PMP may treat in most circumstances. The major difference in this Philadelphia bill is the 90-day provision where landlords and tenants have to split the cost. In Colorado and Connecticut, the landlord must pay in most circumstances and there is no splitting of the cost. The bill advanced out of Committee and heads to the full Council for a vote. Congratulations to Marty as he showed that our industry is a private-sector solution to Philadelphia’s bed bug problem. Read bill here.