BUDGET
On Thursday, June 11th the Board of Economic Advisors (BEA) said that state revenues would be $92 million short for the balance of the 2008-2009 fiscal year. The board also lowered the estimate for fiscal year 2009-2010 by $120 million. The General Assembly did not consider any budget changes when they convened this week. The Sine Die Resolution does allow them to reconvene to consider certain budget matters if necessary. The Budget and Control Board is scheduled to meet on June 29th and they have the authority to make across the board cuts or use Reserve funds to meet budget requirements.
HOT BILLS
H.3013 – Representative Limehouse and others – A bill to increase the penalty for removing or destroying fences or gates that enclose animals, crops or uncultivated land – became law without the Governor’s signature.
H.3104 – Representatives Murrell Smith and Joan Brady – A bill to create a SC College and University Board of Regents – pending in the House Education and Public Works Committee.
H.3147 – Representative Garry Smith and others – A bill to restructure state government by creating a Department of Administration – pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
H.3584 – Representative Harrell and others – A bill to raise the cigarette tax by 50 cents per pack – pending on the Senate Contested Calendar.
H.3365 – Representative Cooper – This bill provides regulatory reform for the state supported research universities and the four year comprehensive institutions in SC. This bill is a collaborative effort by these institutions to propose regulatory reform in the areas of human resources, facilities, finance and procurement – recalled and sent to the Senate Education Committee.
H.3378 – Representative Cooper and others – A bill to provide for the terms and conditions of mandatory state agency furlough programs – signed into law by the Governor on May 6, 2009.
H.3395 – Representative Harrell and others – A bill to conform the SC Code of Laws to reflect any constitutional change in the amount required to be held in the General Reserve Fund – pending in the Senate Finance Committee.
H.3396 – Representative Harrell and others – A Joint Resolution to increase the General Reserve Fund from three to five percent of general fund revenue of the latest completed fiscal year – pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
H. 3397 – Representative Garry Smith and others – A bill to set an annual spending limit on the appropriation of state general fund revenues and establish a spending limit reserve fund– pending in the House Ways and Means Committee.
H.3415 – Representative Harrell and others – A bill to establish the SC Tax Realignment Commission to conduct a comprehensive study of the state’s tax system – recommitted to the House Ways and Means Committee.
H.3651 – Representative Duncan and others – A bill to limit the authority of counties and municipalities to restrict or regulate certain forestry activities – signed into law by the Governor on Jun 2, 2009.
H.3878 – Representative Rice and others – A Joint Resolution to establish a joint committee on the consolidation of state agencies to review the feasibility and costs savings related to the consolidation of certain state agencies – pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
H.3889 – Representative Jimmy Bales – A bill to change the requirement for Coggins Testing and to require testing for Strangles in horses – recommitted to the House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee.
H.4000 – Representative Harrell – The Sine Die Concurrent Resolution – allows the General Assembly to return in state wide session to take up any budge issues, certain legislation and vetoes – approved by the House and Senate.
H.4005 – Representative Sellers and others – A bill to prohibiting individuals seeking election to membership on the governing board of an institution of higher education filled by a vote of the General Assembly to make contributions to a candidate for the General Assembly or sponsor a fundraiser for a candidate from the time the individual files a notice of intention to seek membership to the time the office is filled – passed by the House and sent to the Senate.
S.1 – Senator McConnell and others – A Joint Resolution to amend the SC Constitution to establish spending limits and establish a budget stabilization fund – pending on the Senate Contested Calendar.
S.2 – Senator McConnell and others – This bill implements an annual limit on the appropriation of state general fund revenues – pending in the Senate Finance Committee.
S.9 – Senator McConnell and others – A bill to energy efficiency and renewable energy goals for state government – recommitted to the House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee.
S.12 – Senator Leatherman and others – This bill creates the Taxation Realignment Commission to conduct a comprehensive study of the state’s tax system – Conference report adopted and enrolled for ratification.
S.84 – Senator Ford – A bill that would allow arrest warrants to be made available for public inspection and copying without a written request if the requestor appears in person – tabled by a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee.
S.116 – Senators Knotts and McConnell – A bill relating to definitions in the Procurement Code to provide for preferences to end products from South Carolina – vetoed by the Governor, veto overridden and became law on June16, 2009.
S. 147 – Senators Campsen and Elliot – A bill to require the passage of a joint resolution prior allowing a bond authorization prior to the introduction and passage of a bill or joint resolution to authorize bonds for a given year – given an unfavorable report by the Sales and Income Taxation Subcommittee of the Senate Finance Committee.
S.182 – Senator Setzler and others – This bill is similar to S.12 and creates a permanent Tax Research Commission to study and make recommendations on sales tax exemptions and the state’s tax system – continued by the Senate Finance Committee.
S.268 – Senator McConnell – A bill to clarify building code inspection procedures – included an amendment requested by Clemson - became law without the Governor’s signature on May 20, 2009.
S.351 – Senator Grooms – A bill to restructure the organization of the SC State Ports Authority – vetoed by the Governor, veto overridden, became law on June 16, 2009.
S.377 – Senator Scott and others – A bill to require public institutions of higher education to develop a credit card marketing and solicitation policy – passed by the Senate and referred to the House Education and Public Works Committee.
S.452 – Senator Campbell and others – A bill relating to SC surface water withdrawal and reporting – pending in the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.
S.453 – Senators Verdin and Ford – A bill to provide that local governments ordinances concerning the care and handling of livestock and poultry are superseded and preempted by laws enacted by the SC General Assembly. It also prevents local governments from imposing any new storm water fees on agricultural, forest, or undeveloped land – vetoed by the Governor, veto overridden, became law on June 16, 2009.
S.517 – Senator Davis and others – A Joint Resolution requiring certain fees charged by state agencies that are set by regulation to be approved by the General Assembly – pending on the Senate Contested Calendar.
S.553 – Senator Hutto – A bill to provide for the licensure and regulation of summer camps – passed by the Senate and sent to the House Judiciary Committee.
S.577 – Senator Leatherman and others – A Concurrent Resolution to allow the General Assembly to accept federal stimulus funds if the Governor fails to certify in the required period of time that he will request these funds – adopted by the House and Senate.
S.593 – Senator Shane Martin – A bill to allow persons who have a concealed weapons permit to carry a weapon on school property or college campuses if the weapon remains inside an attended or locked car – signed into law by the Governor.
S.711 – Senator Danny Verdin – a Joint Resolution to allow Clemson Regulatory Services Division to quarantine counties for Citrus Greening Disease – signed into law by the Governor on May 19, 2009.
For a complete list of bills being tracked by Governmental Affairs please go to the State Relations page of the Office of Governmental Affairs Web site: http://www.clemson.edu/governmentalaffairs/.
FYI
The General Assembly returned on June 16th to consider Governor Sanford’s vetoes and finalize certain legislation. The House and Senate overrode all 10 vetoes including S.351 – the Ports Authority bill, S.453 – a bill to protect farmers from local government ordinances that usurp state law, and H.3301 – the Pay Day Lending bill.
The General Assembly also approved S.12 – A bill to establish the SC Tax Realignment Commission. This bill would establish an 11 member commission to be appointed by certain members of the House and Senate and the Governor. It also establishes academic and/or professional experience criteria for members of the commission. The bill outlines the duties of the commission and establishes time certain reporting and recommendation requirements to the General Assembly. The bill further establishes a Joint Sales Tax Exemptions Review Committee composed of seven members of the House and Senate to review all sales tax exemptions currently allowed by law. After the bill has been ratified, it will go to the Governor for his consideration. | 
