Housing agency bed bug requirements passed

Lawmakers approved a bill May 14 requiring the Omaha Housing Authority to address bed bug infestations.

LB287, introduced by the Urban Affairs Committee, requires a housing agency in a metropolitan class city to inspect a dwelling unit within 10 days of receiving a bed bug complaint. If an infestation is found, the agency must obtain and provide remedial services from a pest control professional within 21 days. The agency is responsible for the costs of investigating and remediating any bed bug infestation.

Omaha is the state’s only metropolitan class city.

Before renting a dwelling unit, a housing agency must visually inspect the unit for evidence of bed bugs. It also must disclose to a prospective tenant if an adjacent unit currently is infested with or being treated for bed bugs.

The bill prohibits an agency from showing, renting or leasing to a prospective tenant any unit that the agency knows or reasonably suspects has a bed bug infestation.

LB287 also requires a housing agency in a metropolitan class city to submit a report to the city and the Urban Affairs Committee every six months. The report must include information on pest control management activities, the number of eviction filings and the number and nature of complaints or grievances filed during the period covered by the report, in addition to current vacancy rates and relevant updates from the agency’s board meetings.

Included in the bill are the amended provisions of LB514, also sponsored by the committee. They allow a metropolitan class city to require a housing authority to comply with any city rental inspection and registration ordinance, code enforcement and inspection of residential rental properties.

Also included are the amended provisions of LB321, introduced by Sen. Rita Sanders of Bellevue. They update sanitary and improvement district board election requirements and allow an SID to pay for improvements by collecting special assessments on property located outside the boundaries of the district to the extent the improvements benefit that property.

LB287 passed on a vote of 34-15 and takes effect immediately.