We, South Carolina residents, urge the SC Labor, Commerce, and Industry committee to support SC House Bill 4784. The bill promotes balcony safety by requiring that exterior balconies at certain multi-unit dwellings be inspected every five years and meet international building code standards. Representative James Smith introduced the bill, and it was referred to the Committee on Labor, Commerce, and Industry on January 28, 2016. 

The issue of balcony inspection is of particular importance to me because a dear friend of mine, Jennifer, lost her son, Jonathan, in an accident that would have been prevented if the law had required stricter standards for exterior balcony inspection. Jonathan attended EL Wright Middle School in Columbia, Spring Valley High School in Columbia, and was a USC graduate. He and his fiancée had moved into a multi-unit rental property in Massachusetts about six weeks prior to the tragedy. They had not been advised of any structural or safety concerns. After the 2008 Super Bowl ended, Jonathan went out the French doors onto the second story balcony egress. The railings, which were rotten and not properly attached, gave way; Jonathan fell to his death. He was brought by local paramedics to the ER where I worked at the time, but we were unable to revive him. In the aftermath of Jonathan's death, an investigation uncovered that his landlord had received complaints about the balcony railings from multiple tenants dating all the way back to 2001, seven years prior to Jonathan's death. The following is an excerpt from an email Jennifer sent me a few years ago: "After his death, Massachusetts passed a law to have balconies and railings in multi-family rentals inspected every 5 years. I am working on getting a similar law passed in Maryland and South Carolina.  Then I will approach contacts in other states. I want to spare any other families from having this pain."

I am pleased to report that Jennifer's efforts were successful in Maryland, where she will reside until she and her husband move to South Carolina this fall. Jonathan's Law was passed in Maryland in 2014. Now is the time for a Jonathan's Law in his home state -- our home state -- South Carolina. 

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely, 

Lesley K.