BUDGET
The Senate Finance Committee completed their work on the budget on April 15th and the full Senate is expected to begin debate on the budget on Tuesday, April 27th.
Here is a summary of what the Senate Finance Committee’s FY2010-11 budget means for Clemson:
- Education and general (E&G) – recurring cut of $16.5 million; temporarily replaced with $16.5 million in one-time stimulus funding;
- Public Service Activities (PSA) – recurring cut of $6.6 million; temporarily backfilled with $2.6 million in one-time stimulus funding;
- $7 million on one-time funds for the state match on the Wind Turbine Drivetrain Test Facility DOE grant
The recurring cuts that Clemson potentially faces for the FY 2011-12 budget, when stimulus monies are eliminated, will total $23 million. In that case, Clemson’s recurring state support will have been reduced by more than $75 million since June 30, 2008. State support would be approximately what it was 25 years ago, not adjusted for inflation.
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 – Senate amendments amended by the House and returned to the Senate.
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 – pending second reading on the Senate Calendar with Senator Bryant desiring to be present.
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 – conference report adopted and enrolled for ratification.
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 – conference report adopted and enrolled for ratification.
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.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 – pending in the House Ways and Means Committee
H.4227 – Representative Jim Merrill – A bill to abolish the Commission on Higher Education – pending in the House Education and Public Works Committee
H.4241 – Representative Murrell Smith and others – A bill to create the SC Renewable Energy Plan – pending in 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 – pending in 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 – pending on the Senate contested calendar.
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.
H.4589 – Representative Mike Gambrell and others – A bill to exempt stockyard owners from the training and certification requirements relating to animal facility waste management – approved by House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee.
H.4822 – Representative Mike Gambrell and others – A bill to related to commercial pesticide applicators licensing requirements for application of certain substances – referred to the House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee.
H.4840- Representative Duncan – A bill to enact the “No Chippin’ Chickens Act” – referred to 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 – amended and adjourned debate 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 – passed by the Senate and sent to the House Ways and Means 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.242 – Senator Ryberg and others – A bill to close the TERI program to new participants as of July 1, 2010 – given a favorable majority report and unfavorable minority report by 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 – pending in 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 House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee.
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 on the Senate Contested Calendar.
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 – pending in 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 – became law without the Governor’s signature.
S.1115 – Senator Verdin and others – A Joint Resolution to approve regulations relating to P. ramorum quarantine – became law without the Governor’s signature.
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.
S.1315- Senator Robert Ford – A bill to provide that all members of the Boards of Trustees of all public institutions of higher education be appointed by the Governor with advice and consent of the Senate – referred to the Senate Education Committee.
S.1323 – Senator Matthews and others – A bill to establish the “I-95 Corridor Authority Act” – referred to the Senate Finance Committee.
S.1329 – Senator Malloy – A bill to establish the South Carolina College and University Board of Regents – referred to the Senate Education Committee.
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
May 1 is the deadline for bills to be approved by one body (The House or Senate) in order to be passed this year. The House and Senate worked long hours in order to make this May 1st legislative crossover deadline. The House will continue to work long hours next week on the calendar and the Senate will be debating the budget.
On Wednesday, the House amended and passed H.3584 raising the cigarette tax by 50 cents per pack. The increase is expected to generate approximately $136 million most of which will be used for the Medicaid Reserve Fund. The bill commits $1 million to be directed to the SC Department of Agriculture for marketing SC grown products.
H.4478, The SC Economic Competitiveness Act is on the Senate Calendar with several Senators holding the bill up. The bill includes allowing the Department of Commerce to award one-third of the funds associated with the endowed chairs program. The subcommittee heard testimony and carried the bill over.
Senate bill S.789, a bill by Senator Rose requiring institutions of higher education to place a transaction registry on their respective websites of transactions greater than $100.00 is on the Senate Contested Calendar. The higher education institutions, with Clemson as the lead, worked with Senator Rose and Comptroller Richard Eckstrom to amend the bill with language that was acceptable to the institutions.
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.
Senate bill S.242 – was debated in the Senate Finance Committee and was reported out with a majority favorable and minority unfavorable report. The bill is now on the Senate Contested Calendar.
On Tuesday, student leaders representing both Undergraduate and Graduate Student Government traveled to Columbia for Clemson’s annual Student Legislative Day. Students were introduced in the House and Senate. They visited with legislators at the State House and in caucus meetings. Those students traveling to Columbia included: Abby Daniel (2009-2010 Undergraduate Student Body President), Ryan Duane (2010-2011 Undergraduate Student Body President), Dustin Atkins, Sean Brown, Kristina Catani, Omar Haque, Sherri Hughes-Murphree, Derek Johnson, and Elizabeth Serafine. We appreciate these students taking time from their academic schedules to travel to Columbia to support Clemson’s legislative efforts.
On Thursday, President Barker and Vice President John Kelly made a presentation on Clemson PSA to the House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee. David Wilkins, Chairman of the Board of Trustees as well as Trustees Lawrence Gressette and Nicky McCarter also attended.
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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