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Sabini Legislation Mandates Large Districts Inform the Public About Bedbug Infestations

Legislation introduced by Senator John D. Sabini (D/I-Queens) would mandate cities with over 1 million residents provide notice of bedbug infestations in public schools.

The law stipulates that the principal of each public school must immediately notify all parents or guardians if a bedbug infestation is discovered at the school. The principal also must provide information to prevent further infestations and stop the transfer of the bedbugs from the school to the homes of students and faculty. 

“Bed bugs are a growing problem in urban areas like western Queens, and that’s due to how densely populated our neighborhoods are,” Sabini said. “If bed bugs were to infest a school, they could quickly infest the homes of students and faculty members. This law will prevent that.”

The bill, S7962, is another step toward increasing knowledge on the bed bug issue in the community, which has been a priority of the senator’s.

“Educating our neighborhoods is the key to solving the problem,” Sabini said. “There are a lot of myths about bed bugs that we need to debunk – for example, they don’t spread diseases, and they aren’t limited to unclean places. But they do bite, and they are a problem we need to address.”

Each applicable city’s Board of Education is responsible for developing this information, which shall be available in various languages as needed.

“No one should be ashamed to have bed bugs,” the senator said. “They can occur in very clean places, including high-end hotel rooms. But the problem can be solved if the right steps are taken. If you suspect a bed bug infestation, contact the state’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development (DHPD) to help you diagnose and take care of the problem.”

This issue is a quality-of-life concern that the senator has focused on recently. In late May, Sabini hosted forums at Lefrak City informing residents about the bed bug problem. A representative from the DHPD narrated a slide show about the pests, providing attendees with background information and tips on how to prevent infestation.

The bill currently sits in the Education Committee, on which the senator serves.

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