COLUMBIA, S.C. — September 21, 2019, was the day that changed Morgan Kiser's Life forever.
A speeding boat ran over the Kisers’ boat, resulting in the death of her father and the loss of her mother's leg.
"It was horrifying and life-altering," said Kiser.
Randall and Karen Smith have dedicated 25 years to changing South Carolina's boating laws after their 11-year-old son Drew was killed by a drunk boater on Lake Murray in 1997.
“You could only charge manslaughter at the time, There was no BUI law," said Randall Smith.
Bonded together by unthinkable loss, the Kisers and the Smiths are on a mission to make sure no one faces the trauma they endured.
They relived their trauma in front of a House panel Thursday, urging them to pass the Boating Safety and Education Program.
Those under 16 are already required to get a boating education certificate, but a bill sponsored by Sen. Chip Campsen (R-Charleston) would require those born after July 1, 2007 to become certified, too.
The 2007 year is fixed, so as each year passes, more and more boaters must be certified.
The bill also requires training for those renting a boat.
"If you know what you're doing on the waterways you could take it in an hour and a half. But the people that need 8 hours to take the course, those people need to take the course desperately," said Kiser.
South Carolina has one of the highest per-capita rates of boat ownership and boating fatalities in the country, according to SCDNR.
Despite this, the state remains one of a handful without boating safety requirements for those over 16 years old.
“It is not in your constitutional rights to drive a boat or drive a vehicle or any of those things. The test is free, it just takes a little bit of time," said Rep. Chris Wooten (R-Lexington).
The bill now awaits approval from the House Judiciary Committee. It's the furthest the bill has gone in the three years Kiser has begun fighting for it.
The Smiths are also hopeful the legislation will make it to the Governor's desk in time for the busy boating season.
“If you lost a son, you tell me how urgent it is. It can’t be passed fast enough," said the couple.