BUDGET
The full House will begin debate on the budget on Monday, March 15th.
On Wednesday, President Barker, Student Body President Abby Daniel, and Vice President John Kelly presented the Clemson PSA budget request to the Natural Resources Subcommittee of the Senate Finance Committee.
Members of the Natural Resources Subcommittee:
Senator Yancey McGill, Chairman
Senator Larry Grooms
Senator Ralph Anderson
The Higher Education Subcommittee of the Senate Finance Committee is not going to hold budget hearings this session.
Members of the Higher Education Subcommittee:
Senator John Courson, Chairman
Senator Darrell Jackson
Senator Danny Verdin
Senator Greg Ryberg
Senator Dick Elliott
HOT BILLS
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 – A bill to provide 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 – amended and given a favorable report by the Senate Education Committee, pending second reading on the Senate Calendar.
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 – returned to the Senate with amendments.
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 – returned to the Senate with amendments.
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.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 – pending in a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee.
H.4176 – Representative John King – A Joint Resolution to impose a moratorium on reimbursements paid in connection with all nonessential state employee travel, associated meals and lodging through June 30, 2010 – referred to the House Ways and Means Committee
H.4227 – Representative Jim Merrill – A bill to abolish the Commission on Higher Education – referred to the House Education and Public Works Committee
H.4241 – Representative Murrell Smith and others – A bill to create the SC Renewable Energy Plan – referred to the House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee.
H. 4386 – Representative Thompson and others – A bill to limit members of boards of trustees of SC public colleges and universities to three four-year terms – referred to the House Judiciary Committee.
H.4478 – Representative Harrell and others – The SC Economic Competitiveness Act – includes allowing the Department of Commerce to award one-third of the funds associated with the endowed chairs program – referred to the Senate Finance Committee.
H.4539 – Representative Mike Pitts and others – A bill to transfer the State Veterinarian and the Livestock and Poultry Health Division from Clemson University to the SC Department of Agriculture – pending in the House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee.
H.4587 – Representative Umphlett and others – A bill to transfer all agricultural public service activities from Clemson and SC State to the SC Department of Agriculture – pending in the House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee.
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 establish energy efficiency and renewable energy goals for state government – recommitted to the House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee.
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.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 on the Senate Calendar.
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 in the House Ways and Means Committee.
S.553 – Senator Hutto – A bill to provide for the licensure and regulation of summer camps – pending in the House Judiciary Committee.
S.789 –Senator Rose and others – A bill to require all higher education institutions to maintain a web site that includes a record of all expenditures above one-hundred dollars – pending in the Senate Education Committee.
S.872 – Senator Bright – A bill to transfer the State Veterinarian and the Livestock and Poultry Health Division from Clemson University to the SC Department of Agriculture – tabled by a Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee.
S.932 – Senator Larry Martin – A bill related to prohibiting the release of swine into the wild – passed by the Senate and referred to the House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee.
S.1080 – Senators Malloy and Ford – A bill to repeal the sales tax exemption on textbooks, books, periodicals, magazines, newspapers, and access to on-line information – introduced and referred to the Senate Finance Committee.
S.1114 – Senator Verdin and others – A Joint Resolution to approve regulations relating to Citrus Greening Disease by Clemson’s Regulatory and Public Service Division – passed by the Senate and House and enrolled for ratification.
S.1115 – Senator Verdin and others – A Joint Resolution to approve regulations relating to P. ramorum quarantine – passed the Senate and House and enrolled for ratification.
S.1053 – Senators McConnell and Rose – A bill to prohibit state agencies from increasing any fee for services unless approved by the General Assembly – pending in a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee.
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
On Wednesday, President Barker and Vice President John Kelly gave a presentation about Clemson PSA to the Senate Agriculture Committee. They talked about Clemson’s mission as a land grant university and discussed current agriculture research and education being conducted by Clemson PSA.
The Higher Education Efficiency and Accountability Act (H.3365 or “Regulatory Reform”) remains on the Senate Calendar with Senator Kevin Bryant keeping his name on the bill as desiring to be present. We continue to work with the Senate leadership for passage of this bill.
The House continued to work to consider bills in order to clear the Calendar in anticipation of the budget debate the week of March 15th.
Please refer to the Clemson Advocacy home page (www.ciclt.net/clemson) for up to date, statewide news coverage on Clemson University and related information.
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