Maryland 2022 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB1069 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4	4	[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5	5	hb1069
6	6
7	7	HOUSE BILL 1069
8	8	N1, M4 2lr0849
9	9
10	10	By: Delegates Holmes and Charles
11	11	Introduced and read first time: February 10, 2022
12	12	Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
13	13
14	14	A BILL ENTITLED
15	15
16	16	AN ACT concerning 1
17	17
18	18	Maryland Bedbug Detection and Treatment Act 2
19	19
20	20	FOR the purpose of requiring a tenant to notify the tenant’s landlord if the tenant knows 3
21	21	or reasonably suspects that the tenant’s dwelling unit contains bedbugs (Cimex 4
22	22	lectularius); requiring a landlord receiving notice from a tenant under this Act to 5
23	23	provide for the inspection and, if necessary, treatment of the tenant’s dwelling unit 6
24	24	and contiguous dwelling units; imposing on a tenant certain requirements and 7
25	25	prohibitions relating to reasonable access to the tenant’s dwelling unit and 8
26	26	compliance with inspection and treatment measures; prohibiting a landlord from 9
27	27	offering for rent a dwelling unit that the landlord knows or reasonably suspects to 10
28	28	contain bedbugs; providing that a landlord is responsible for all costs associated with 11
29	29	an inspection for and the treatment of the presence of bedbugs; establishing the 12
30	30	liability of a tenant or landlord for failure to comply with the provisions of this Act; 13
31	31	and generally relating to the inspection for and treatment of bedbugs in rental 14
32	32	dwelling units. 15
33	33
34	34	BY adding to 16
35	35	Article – Real Property 17
36	36	Section 8–1001 through 8–1006 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 10. Maryland 18
37	37	Bedbug Detection and Treatment Act” 19
38	38	Annotated Code of Maryland 20
39	39	(2015 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 21
40	40
41	41	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 22
42	42	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 23
43	43
44	44	Article – Real Property 24
45	45
46	46	SUBTITLE 10. MARYLAND BEDBUG DETECTION AND TREATMENT ACT. 25
47	47	2 HOUSE BILL 1069
48	48
49	49
50	50	8–1001. 1
51	51
52	52	(A) IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING WO RDS HAVE THE MEANING S 2
53	53	INDICATED. 3
54	54
55	55	(B) “BEDBUG” MEANS THE COMMON BED BUG, CIMEX LECTULARIUS , AT ANY 4
56	56	STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT . 5
57	57
58	58	(C) “CERTIFIED APPLICATOR ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 5–201 OF 6
59	59	THE AGRICULTURE ARTICLE. 7
60	60
61	61	(D) “LOCAL GOVERNMENT ” MEANS A COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL ITY. 8
62	62
63	63	(E) “PEST CONTROL AGENT ” MEANS A CERTIFIED AP PLICATOR OR A 9
64	64	REGISTERED EMPLOYEE WORKING UNDER THE SU PERVISION, AS DEFINED IN § 10
65	65	5–201 OF THE AGRICULTURE ARTICLE, OF A CERTIFIED APPLI CATOR. 11
66	66
67	67	(F) “REGISTERED EMPLOYEE ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 5–201 OF 12
68	68	THE AGRICULTURE ARTICLE. 13
69	69
70	70	(G) “WRITTEN NOTICE ” INCLUDES NOTICE BY T EXT MESSAGE , E–MAIL, OR 14
71	71	DELIVERY THROUGH AN ELECTRONIC PORTAL OR MANAGEMENT COMMUNICA TIONS 15
72	72	SYSTEM THAT IS AVAIL ABLE TO BOTH A LANDL ORD AND A TENANT . 16
73	73
74	74	8–1002. 17
75	75
76	76	(A) (1) A TENANT SHALL PROMPTL Y PROVIDE NOTICE TO THE TENANT’S 18
77	77	LANDLORD IF THE TENANT KNOWS OR REASONABLY SUSPECTS THAT THE TE NANT’S 19
78	78	DWELLING UNIT CONTAI NS BEDBUGS. 20
79	79
80	80	(2) THE NOTICE REQUIRED U NDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 21
81	81	SUBSECTION SHALL BE: 22
82	82
83	83	(I) IN THE FORM REQUIRED BY THE RENTAL AGREEMENT ; OR 23
84	84
85	85	(II) IF NO PARTICULAR FORM OF NOTICE IS REQUIRED BY THE 24
86	86	RENTAL AGREEMENT , BY WRITTEN NOTICE THROUGH A METHOD REGULARLY USED 25
87	87	BY THE LANDLORD AND TEN ANT TO COMMUNICATE . 26
88	88
89	89	(B) (1) NOT LATER THAN 4 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING NOTICE UND ER 27
90	90	SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION , A LANDLORD SHALL, SUBJECT TO § 8–1004 OF 28
91	91	THIS SUBTITLE , OBTAIN AN INSPECTION OF THE DWELLING UNIT BY A PEST 29
92	92	CONTROL AGENT . 30 HOUSE BILL 1069 3
93	93
94	94
95	95
96	96	(2) IF THE INSPECTION OF A DWELLING UNIT CONF IRMS THE 1
97	97	PRESENCE OF BEDBUGS , THE LANDLORD SHALL OBTAIN AN INSPECTION OF ALL 2
98	98	CONTIGUOUS DWELLING UNITS OPERATED BY THE LAND LORD AS PROMPTLY AS IS 3
99	99	REASONABLY PRACTICAL . 4
100	100
101	101	8–1003. 5
102	102
103	103	(A) A LANDLORD SHALL PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE TENANT WITHIN 6
104	104	2 BUSINESS DAYS AFTER AN INSPECTION CONDUCTED UNDER § 8–1002 OF THIS 7
105	105	SUBTITLE INDICATING WHETHER T HE DWELLING UNIT CON TAINS BEDBUGS . 8
106	106
107	107	(B) IF A PEST CONTROL AGENT DETERMINES THAT THE DWELLING UNIT 9
108	108	DOES NOT CONTAIN BEDBUGS, THE WRITTEN NOTICE PROVIDED BY T HE LANDLORD 10
109	109	SHALL INFORM THE TENANT TH AT THE TENANT MAY CONTACT THE LOCA L HEALTH 11
110	110	DEPARTMENT IF THE TENANT REMAIN S CONCERNED THAT THE DWELLING UNIT MAY 12
111	111	CONTAIN BEDBUGS . 13
112	112
113	113	(C) (1) IF A PEST CONTROL AGE NT DETERMINES THAT T HE DWELLING 14
114	114	UNIT CONTAINS BEDBUGS , THE PEST CONTROL AGENT SHALL REPORT THE FINDING 15
115	115	TO THE LANDLORD WITH IN 24 HOURS AFTER THE INSP ECTION IS COMPLETED . 16
116	116
117	117	(2) NOT LATER THAN 5 BUSINESS DAYS AFTER RECEIVING A REPORT 17
118	118	UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THE LANDLORD SHALL C OMMENCE 18
119	119	REASONABLE MEASURES, AS DETERMINED BY THE PEST CONTROL AGENT , TO 19
120	120	EFFECTIVELY TREAT TH E PRESENCE OF BEDBUGS. 20
121	121
122	122	(D) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE P ROVIDED IN THIS SUBT ITLE, A LANDLORD IS 21
123	123	RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL COSTS ASSOCIATED WIT H AN INSPECTION FOR AND THE 22
124	124	TREATMENT OF THE PRESENCE OF BEDBUGS. 23
125	125
126	126	(E) NOTHING IN THIS SECTI ON PROHIBITS A TENAN T FROM CONTACTING 24
127	127	ANY UNIT OF FEDERAL, STATE, OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AT ANY TIME WITH 25
128	128	CONCERNS ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF BEDB UGS. 26
129	129
130	130	8–1004. 27
131	131
132	132	(A) (1) (I) IF A LANDLORD OR PEST CONTROL AGENT MUST ENTER A 28
133	133	DWELLING UNIT FOR TH E PURPOSE OF CONDUCT ING AN INSPECTION FO R OR 29
134	134	TREATING THE PRESENC E OF BEDBUGS , THE LANDLORD SHALL P ROVIDE THE 30
135	135	TENANT WITH WRITTEN NOTICE AT LEAST 48 HOURS BEFORE THE LAN DLORD OR 31
136	136	PEST CONTROL AGENT A TTEMPTS TO ENTER THE DWELLING UNIT. 32
137	137	4 HOUSE BILL 1069
138	138
139	139
140	140	(II) A RENTAL AGREEMENT MAY PROVIDE FOR A LONGER 1
141	141	PERIOD OF NOTICE THA N IS REQUIRED UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH . 2
142	142
143	143	(III) A TENANT MAY WAIVE THE NOTICE REQUIREMENT UNDER 3
144	144	THIS PARAGRAPH . 4
145	145
146	146	(2) A TENANT WHO RECEIVES NOTICE UNDER PARAGRA PH (1) OF 5
147	147	THIS SUBSECTION MAY NOT DENY THE LANDLORD OR PEST CONTROL AGENT 6
148	148	REASONABLE ACCESS TO THE DWELLI NG UNIT FOR THE PURP OSE OF CONDUCTING 7
149	149	AN INSPECTION FOR OR TREATING THE PRESENC E OF BEDBUGS. 8
150	150
151	151	(B) A PEST CONTROL AGENT MAY: 9
152	152
153	153	(1) CONDUCT AN INITIAL INSPECTIO N OF A TENANT’S BEDDING AND 10
154	154	UPHOLSTERED FURNITUR E; AND 11
155	155
156	156	(2) INSPECT ITEMS AND AREAS OF THE DWE LLING UNIT OTHER THAN 12
157	157	THE TENANT ’S BEDDING AND UPHOLS TERED FURNITURE IF THE PEST CONTROL 13
158	158	AGENT DETERMINES THAT SUCH AN INSPECTION IS NEC ESSARY AND REASONABL E. 14
159	159
160	160	(C) (1) A TENANT SHALL COMPLY WITH REASONABLE MEAS URES TO 15
161	161	ALLOW THE INSPECTION FOR OR THE TREATMENT OF THE PRESENCE OF BEDBUGS 16
162	162	AS DETERMINED BY THE PEST CONTROL AGENT . 17
163	163
164	164	(2) THE TENANT IS RESPONS IBLE FOR ALL COSTS A SSOCIATED WITH 18
165	165	PREPARING THE DWELLI NG UNIT FOR INSPECTI ON AND TREATMENT . 19
166	166
167	167	(D) (1) IF ANY PROPERTY BELON GING TO A TENANT IS FOUND TO 20
168	168	CONTAIN BEDBUGS , THE PEST CONTROL AGENT SHALL ADVISE THE TEN ANT 21
169	169	REGARDING THE REMOVA L OF THE PROPERTY FROM THE DW ELLING UNIT. 22
170	170
171	171	(2) THE TENANT MAY NOT DISPOSE OF PERSO NAL PROPERTY FOUND 23
172	172	TO CONTAIN BEDBUGS IN A N INTERIOR COMMON AREA WHERE SUCH DISPOSAL MAY 24
173	173	RISK THE INFESTATION OF OTHER DWELLING UNITS. 25
174	174
175	175	(E) A TENANT WHO FAILS TO COMPLY IN A REASONAB LE MANNER WITH THE 26
176	176	INSPECTION OR TREATM ENT REQUIREMENTS DES CRIBED IN THIS SUBTI TLE IS 27
177	177	LIABLE FOR THE COST OF ANY BEDBUG TREATM ENTS FOR THE DWELLIN G UNIT AND 28
178	178	CONTIGUOUS DWELLING UNITS OPERATED BY TH E LANDLORD IF THE NEED FOR 29
179	179	SUCH TREATMENTS ARIS ES FROM THE TENANT ’S NONCOMPLIANCE . 30
180	180
181	181	(F) NOTHING IN THIS SECTI ON: 31
182	182	HOUSE BILL 1069 5
183	183
184	184
185	185	(1) REQUIRES A LANDLORD T O PROVIDE A TENANT W ITH 1
186	186	ALTERNATIVE LODGING OR TO PAY TO REPLACE A TENANT’S PROPERTY; OR 2
187	187
188	188	(2) PREEMPTS OR RESTRICTS THE APPLICATION OF ANY STATE OR 3
189	189	FEDERAL LAW CONCERNI NG REASONABLE ACCOMM ODATIONS FOR PERSONS WITH 4
190	190	DISABILITIES. 5
191	191
192	192	8–1005. 6
193	193
194	194	(A) A LANDLORD MAY NOT OFFER FOR RENT A DWELLING UNIT THAT T HE 7
195	195	LANDLORD KNOWS OR RE ASONABLY SUSPECTS TO CONTAIN BEDBUGS . 8
196	196
197	197	(B) ON REQUEST BY A PROSPECTIVE TENANT , A LANDLORD SHALL 9
198	198	DISCLOSE WHETHER , TO THE LANDLORD ’S KNOWLEDGE , THE DWELLING UNIT TH AT 10
199	199	THE LANDLORD IS OFFE RING FOR RENT CONTAI NED BEDBUGS WITHIN T HE 11
200	200	PREVIOUS 8 MONTHS. 12
201	201
202	202	(C) ON REQUEST BY A TENANT OR PROSPECT IVE TENANT, A LANDLORD 13
203	203	SHALL DISCLOSE THE L AST DATE, IF ANY, THAT A DWELLING UNIT BEING RENTED 14
204	204	OR OFFERED FOR RENT WAS INSPECTED FOR AN D FOUND TO BE FREE O F BEDBUGS. 15
205	205
206	206	8–1006. 16
207	207
208	208	(A) A LANDLORD WHO FAILS T O COMPLY WITH THIS S UBTITLE IS LIABLE TO 17
209	209	THE TENANT FOR DAMAGES SU FFERED BY THE TENANT . 18
210	210
211	211	(B) A LANDLORD MAY SEEK INJUNCTIVE RELIEF AG AINST A TENANT WHO : 19
212	212
213	213	(1) REFUSES TO PROVIDE RE ASONABLE ACCESS TO A DWELLING UNIT 20
214	214	FOR THE PURPOSES OF A BEDBUG INSPECTION OR TREATM ENT; OR 21
215	215
216	216	(2) FAILS TO COMPLY WITH A REASONABLE REQUEST FOR BEDBUG 22
217	217	INSPECTION OR TREATM ENT OF A DWELLING UN IT. 23
218	218
219	219	(C) (1) IF A COURT FINDS THAT A TENANT HAS FAILED TO REASONABLY 24
220	220	COMPLY WITH ONE OR M ORE REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN THIS SUBTIT LE, THE 25
221	221	COURT MAY ISSUE A TE MPORARY ORDER TO CARRY O UT THIS SUBTITLE, INCLUDING: 26
222	222
223	223	(I) GRANTING THE LANDLORD ACCESS TO THE DWELLING UNIT 27
224	224	FOR THE PURPOSES SET FORTH IN THIS SUBTIT LE; 28
225	225
226	226	(II) GRANTING THE LANDLORD THE RIGHT TO ENGAGE IN 29
227	227	BEDBUG INSPECTION OR TREATMENT MEASURES I N THE DWELLING UNIT ; AND 30 6 HOUSE BILL 1069
228	228
229	229
230	230
231	231	(III) REQUIRING THE TENANT TO COMPLY WITH SPECI FIC 1
232	232	BEDBUG INSPECTION OR TREATMENT MEASURES . 2
233	233
234	234	(2) A COURT MAY ASSESS A T ENANT WITH COSTS AND DAMAGES THAT 3
235	235	ARE CAUSED BY THE TENANT’S NONCOMPLIANCE WITH THIS SUBTITLE. 4
236	236
237	237	(D) ANY COURT ORDER GRANT ING A LANDLORD ACCES S TO A DWELLING 5
238	238	UNIT MUST BE SERVED ON THE TENANT AT LEA ST 24 HOURS BEFORE THE LANDLORD 6
239	239	OR A PEST CONTROL AGENT E NTERS THE DWELLING U NIT. 7
240	240
241	241	(E) (1) THE REMEDIES IN THIS SECTION ARE IN ADDIT ION TO ANY OTHER 8
242	242	REMEDIES AVAILABLE A T LAW OR IN EQUITY T O ANY PERSON. 9
243	243
244	244	(2) THIS SECTION DOES NOT LIMIT OR RESTRICT TH E AUTHORITY OF 10
245	245	ANY STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT HOUSING OR HEALTH CO DE ENFORCEMENT 11
246	246	AGENCY. 12
247	247
248	248	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 13
249	249	October 1, 2022. 14