H 3041 General Bill, By L.S. Whipper
 A Bill to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section
 16-3-1080 so as to make it a crime for an owner of a dwelling unit to install
 a security measure which would hinder the exit of a person from the unit in
 case of a fire and require an owner of a dwelling unit to provide easy access
 to all exits of the dwelling unit or building in which the unit is located and
 to provide a penalty for violation.

   12/12/90  House  Prefiled
   12/12/90  House  Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry
   01/08/91  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-48
   01/08/91  House  Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and
                     Industry HJ-48
   02/27/91  House  Committee report: Favorable with amendment Labor,
                     Commerce and Industry HJ-6
   03/05/91  House  Amended HJ-25
   03/05/91  House  Read second time HJ-25
   03/06/91  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-19
   03/07/91  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-10
   03/07/91  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-10

March 5, 1991

H. 3041

S. Printed 3/5/91--H.

Read the first time January 8, 1991.

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 16-3-1080 SO AS TO MAKE IT A CRIME FOR AN OWNER OF A DWELLING UNIT TO INSTALL A SECURITY MEASURE WHICH WOULD HINDER THE EXIT OF A PERSON FROM THE UNIT IN CASE OF A FIRE AND REQUIRE AN OWNER OF A DWELLING UNIT TO PROVIDE EASY ACCESS TO ALL EXITS OF THE DWELLING UNIT OR BUILDING IN WHICH THE UNIT IS LOCATED AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR VIOLATION.

Amend Title To Conform

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Article 11, Chapter 3, Title 16 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 16-3-1080. (A) For purposes of this section, `rental dwelling unit' means any dwelling unit held out for the use of tenants or intended for the use and occupancy by tenants. The terms `dwelling unit', `owner', `person', and `tenant' are as defined in Section 27-40-210.

(B) No owner of any rental dwelling unit, or structure in which the unit is located, may install a security measure which would hinder the exit of a person from the rental dwelling unit in case of a fire. The owner shall insure that all exits to the rental dwelling unit or structure must be accessible easily.

(C) A person violating the provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined in an amount not to exceed five hundred dollars and imprisoned for a period not to exceed one year."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.