Title
Amending The Philadelphia Code to impose certain requirements on exterminators of honeybees, including certain training requirements, all under certain terms and conditions.
Body
WHEREAS, Honeybees are effective pollinators of a large variety of plants, and are often used extensively for commercial pollination of crops and other plants; and
WHEREAS, Honeybees pollination of flowers are vital to the maintenance and improvement of Philadelphia's vibrant ecological landscape; and
WHEREAS, Honeybees, compared to their peers, the wasp, hornet, and yellow jacket, are a relatively docile species, and are not known for having an aggressive nature; and
WHEREAS, Spring is swarming season for Honeybees, a time when large clusters of bees will leave their current hive to form a new one; and
WHEREAS, Despite the intimidating appearance of a swarm, Honeybees generally do not pose a threat to the public when moving to a new hive; and
WHEREAS, Honeybees have succumbed to a phenomenon known as Colony Collapse Disorder, which caused a severe drop in the number of healthy honeybee colonies that can serve as pollinators; and
WHEREAS, Bee colonies and swarms may be removed from a location in a manner which avoids harming the honeybee colony; and
WHEREAS, Additional loss of Honeybees due to bee extermination, when non-lethal bee removal would be an equally efficient and cost effective means of removing a honeybee swarm or hive, promotes a greener Philadelphia; now, therefore
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. Title 9 of The Philadelphia Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
TITLE 9. REGULATION OF BUSINESSES, TRADES, AND PROFESSIONS
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CHAPTER 9-600. SERVICE BUSINESSES
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§ 9-633. Honeybee extermination service.
(1) Definitions. In this Section, the following definitions shall apply.
Administrative Agency. The Animal Control Agency as defined by § 10-101, Managing Director's Office, or such other agency as the Mayor may designate to administer and enforce the provisions of this Section.
Honeybee. Any subset of bees, natural or domesticated, in the genus Apis, primarily distinguished by the production and storage of honey and the construction of perennial, colonial hives out of wax.
Honeybee hive. A natural or manmade enclosure in which Honeybees live and raise their young.
Honeybee swarm. A single grouping of bees which have left a hive to transition to a new hive.
Bee extermination. The use of any method or device or the application of any substance to destroy, eradicate, or eliminate any Honeybee hive, swarm, or other Honeybee grouping.
Bee removal. The act of moving, relocating, collecting, or capturing a Honeybee swarm, hive, or other Honeybee grouping with the intent on safely preserving and minimizing the damage done thereto.
(2) Training Required.
(a) It shall be illegal for an exterminator or other person performing pest removal services for compensation to exterminate a honeybee hive or honeybee swarm without having received training in bee removal.
(b) Training shall consist of at least two hours of instruction on bee removal. The administrative agency shall certify one or more providers of appropriate training programs, based on suitability of each provider and the proposed curriculum.
SECTION 2. This Ordinance shall be effective immediately, except that § 9-633(2)(a) shall not be effective until six months after the date on which one or more providers are certified by the administrative agency.
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Explanation:
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted.
Italics indicate new matter added.
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