Legislative Update
March 4, 2011
THIS WEEK
The House of Representatives adjourned debate on H 3410, The Higher Education Efficiency and Administrative Policies Act of 2011 (Regulatory Relief) until Tuesday, March 8. This bill would streamline processes such as facility construction, procurement, leasing and other state regulatory policies to allow public institutions flexibility while maintaining accountability measures. This bill is strongly supported by Clemson and all other higher education institutions in the state.
The Clemson Governmental Affairs team has prepared background information and a detailed set of talking points on the 2011 Regulatory Relief bill. This information may be found here.
BUDGET
The Appropriations Bill was printed this week and the House Ways and Means Committee will hold budget briefings for other members of the House. The full House will debate the budget bill the week of March 14th.
The Ways and Means version of the budget included no federal stimulus dollars as these funds are no longer available to the state.
The Committee’s proposed reductions for Clemson University and Clemson PSA FY2011-2012 budgets are as follows:
- Education and General (E&G) – recurring cut of $3.8 million (6%)
- All public higher education institutions received a one-time appropriation for deferred maintenance. Clemson’s recommended appropriation is $6.2 million.
- Public Service Activities (PSA) – recurring cut of $804,128 (2.8%). The committee also recommended an additional $250,000 in one-time funding for Clemson PSA.
From a state budgeting standpoint, Clemson is considered two separate state agencies: a research university that receives an educational and general (E&G) state appropriation for teaching and student support, and a land-grant Public Services Activities (PSA) division that receives a state appropriation to support agriculture, forestry and natural resource Extension, research and regulatory programs.
Detailed information on Clemson’s 2011 state legislative and budget priorities for FY 2011-12 may be found at these links:
Clemson Education and General Priorities
Clemson Public Service Activities (PSA) Priorities
BILLS OF INTEREST
The Clemson University Governmental Affairs office is monitoring several bills that have potential impact on Clemson. These bills are listed below (bills that have been acted upon in the past week are italicized):
H 3025 – Representative Murrell Smith – A bill to establish a SC College and University Board of Regents – referred to the House Education and Public Works Committee. Clemson’s position: OPPOSE
H 3036 – Representative Boyd Brown - A bill to establish a SC College and University Board of Regents – referred to the House Education and Public Works Committee. Clemson’s position: OPPOSE
H 3044 – Representative Brady and others – a bill to enact the "South Carolina Angel Investment Act of 2011" by providing for state nonrefundable income tax credits allocated by the Department of Commerce for qualified investments in businesses meeting certain criteria and primarily engaged in manufacturing, processing, warehousing, wholesaling, software development, IT services, research and development or/ other non-prohibited services – Referred to the House Ways and Means Committee. Clemson’s Position: SUPPORT
H 3051 – Representative Shannon Erickson – A Joint Resolution to provide that no state agency by regulation may increase or implement a fee for performing a service without the approval of the General Assembly and to provide exceptions– referred to the House Judiciary Committee. Clemson’s position: OPPOSE
H 3066 – Representative Garry Smith – A bill to restructure state government by creating a Department of Administration – Passed by the House; Referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Clemson’s position: MONITORING TO DETERMINE IMPACT ON CLEMSON
H 3125 – Representative Mike Pitts – A bill to move the State Veterinarian from Clemson University to the Department of Agriculture – referred to the Agriculture, Natural Resource and Environmental Affairs Committee. Clemson’s position: OPPOSE
H 3185 – Representative Harrell and others – A bill to enact the SC Higher Education Transparency Act – to require each public institution of higher education to post online a detailed transaction register of all expenditures – Passed by the Senate Education Committee; now pending on the Senate calendar. Clemson’s position: SUPPORT
H 3204 – Representative Brady and Spires – A Joint Resolution to create the SC Summer Camp Study Committee to study the summer camps in the state – Recalled from the House Education and Public Works Committee and referred to the House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee. Clemson’s position: MONITORING TO DETERMINE IMPACT ON CLEMSON
H 3270 – Representative Loftis and others – A bill to enact the "South Carolina Angel Investment Act of 2011" by providing for state nonrefundable income tax credits allocated by the Department of Commerce for qualified investments in businesses meeting certain criteria and primarily engaged in manufacturing, processing, warehousing, wholesaling, software development, IT services, R&D or other non-prohibited services – Referred to the House Ways and Means Committee. Clemson’s Position: SUPPORT
H 3292 – Representative Pitts and others – A bill related to the carrying and possession of handguns – Passed favorably as amended by a House Judiciary Subcommittee; now pending in the full House Judiciary Committee. Clemson’s position: MONITORING TO DETERMINE IMPACT ON CLEMSON
H 3376 – Representatives Limehouse, Dillard, Sottile, Murphy and Anderson – A bill to provide that a college or university campus police department must release all files and information in its possession regarding a student's suspension, expulsion, or withdrawal from the institution for disruptive or antisocial behavior to the local law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction over the institution's campus – Referred to the House Judiciary Committee. Clemson’s position: MONITORING TO DETERMINE IMPACT ON CLEMSON
H 3410 – Representatives Owens, Cooper, Harrell, Branham, Limehouse, Atwater,
Bikas, Govan, Loftis, Skelton, Taylor and Young – A bill to enact the "South Carolina Higher Education Efficiency and Administrative Policies Act of 2011." This bill is a collaborative effort by these institutions to propose regulatory reform in the areas of facility construction, procurement, leasing and other state regulatory policies – Given a favorable report by the House Education Committee, now pending on the House calendar. Clemson’s position: SUPPORT
H 3418 – Representative Merrill – A bill to provide that a member of the governing board of an institution of higher learning may not serve more than three consecutive terms on the board – Referred to the House Education and Public Works Committee. Clemson’s position: OPPOSE
H 3429 – Representatives Merrill, Bingham, Frye, Spires, Brannon, Parker, V.S. Moss, Bales, Hearn, Horne, Jefferson, Murphy, Sandifer, Sottile, Tallon, Williams and Willis – A bill to provide that a student who is not domiciled in South Carolina and who has not been granted an out-of-state tuition rate waiver shall commit to paying the out-of-state tuition rate for four years before he may be accepted to a public institution of higher learning – Referred to the House Ways and Means Committee. Clemson’s position: MONITORING TO DETERMINE IMPACT ON CLEMSON
H 3456 – Representatives White, G.M. Smith, Pitts and Battle – A bill to create The Other Funds Oversight Committee to review and examine the sources of other funds in this state and to provide for its membership – Referred to the House Ways and Means Committee. Clemson’s position: MONITORING TO DETERMINE IMPACT ON CLEMSON
H 3499 – Representatives Merrill and Bingham – A bill to provide that appropriations made to a public institution of higher learning from the lottery expenditure account must be reflected in its budget – referred to the House Ways and Means Committee. Clemson’s position: OPPOSE
H 3508 – Representative Gambrell and others – A bill relating to Broadband service in underserved areas of South Carolina – Passed by the House; Referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Clemson’s position: MONITORING TO DETERMINE IMPACT ON CLEMSON
H 3558 – Representative J.E. Smith – A bill to require all state institutions of higher education to allow students to complete assignments or take make-up examinations when an absence is caused by attending or participating in military service, duty, training, or disaster relief efforts – referred to the House Education and Public Works Committee. Clemson’s position: MONITORING TO DETERMINE IMPACT ON CLEMSON
H 3579 – Representative Ballentine and others – A bill to provide that unless prohibited by law, the amounts of "other funds" appropriated by Act 291 of 2010, an amount equal to ten percent of "other funds" is transferred to the general fund of the state and to appropriate the transferred funds for specified purposes - referred to the House Ways and Means Committee. Clemson’s position: OPPOSE
H 3580 – Representative Ballentine and others – A bill to provide that unless prohibited by law, any across-the-board reduction in appropriations must be applied to all appropriated funds including state general fund appropriations and, except for federal funds, all "other funds" appropriations – Referred to the House Ways and Means Committee. Clemson’s position: OPPOSE
H 3612 – Representative Toole – A bill to provide that a state agency, department, or institution that issues cellular telephone or other wireless communications devices to its employees must annually review the plan and to provide other requirements – Referred to the House Labor Commerce and Industry Committee. Clemson’s Position: SUPPORT
H 3620 – Representative Lowe – A bill to provide that certain students enrolled in a high school or an institution of higher learning are not required to obtain a hunting or fishing license – Referred to House Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs. Clemson’s position: MONITORING TO DETERMINE IMPACT ON CLEMSON
H 3633 – Representative Loftis and others – A bill to enact the "South Carolina agribusiness Economic Development Authority Act of 2011", to create this authority within the Department of Agriculture to help alleviate the shortage of capital and credit available for investment in agribusiness – Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs. Clemson’s position: MONITORING TO DETERMINE IMPACT ON CLEMSON
H 3743 – Speaker Harrell and others – A bill to authorize the South Carolina Research Authority to commit the credit and taxing power of the state, to provide a written notice requirement when the authority has certain relationships with a nonprofit entity that establishes a for-profit entity, and to provide that a failure to provide this notice may not be construed to indicate the authority may pledge the credit and taxing power of the state – Referred to the House Ways and Means Committee. Clemson’s position: MONITORING TO DETERMINE IMPACT ON CLEMSON
H 3748 – Representative Owens and others – A bill relating to the implementation of the Education And Economic Development Act, so as to extend the date by which the act must be implemented fully – Referred to the House Education and Public Works Committee. Clemson’s position: MONITORING TO DETERMINE IMPACT ON CLEMSON
H 3772 – Representative Hardwick and others – A bill to provide for regulation of landplaster, to revise certain reporting requirements, and to revise the provisions relating to the payment of assessments levied by the State Crop Pest Commission – Referred to the House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee. Clemson’s Position: REQUESTED BY CLEMSON UNIVERSITY-SUPPORT
S 13 – Senator McConnell and others – A bill to prohibit a state officer or employee from authorizing an expenditure or obligation or involve the state in a contract or obligation without appropriated funds to pay the expenditure or obligation, to prohibit a state officer or employee from making or authorizing an expenditure or obligation exceeding funds available in a quarterly allocation program, to prohibit a state officer or employee from employing personal services exceeding those authorized by law – Referred to the Senate Finance Committee. Clemson’s position: MONITORING TO DETERMINE IMPACT ON CLEMSON
S 14 – Senators McConnell and Davis – A bill to provide that a state agency must not increase or implement a fine or fee by regulation or administrative action and to provide exceptions – referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Clemson’s position: MONITORING TO DETERMINE IMPACT ON CLEMSON
S 34 – Senator McConnell and others – A bill to establish the permissible use of state-owned aircraft, to prohibit the use of state-owned aircraft for personal use, and provide penalties – Referred to the Senate Transportation Committee. Clemson’s position: MONITORING TO DETERMINE IMPACT ON CLEMSON
S 90 – Senator Ryberg and others – A bill to close the TERI Program – referred to the Senate Finance Committee. Clemson’s position: MONITORING TO DETERMINE IMPACT ON CLEMSON
S 100 – Senator Grooms – A bill to enact the SC Truth in Spending Act – referred to the Senate Finance Committee. Clemson’s position: MONITORING TO DETERMINE IMPACT ON CLEMSON
S 117 – Senator Bryant – A bill to requiring all institutions of higher education to maintain a detailed transaction register of all expenditures- referred to the Senate Education Committee. Clemson’s position: SUPPORTING SIMILAR BILL S.172
S 134 – Senator Campsen – A bill to restructure state government – referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Clemson’s position: MONITORING TO DETERMINE IMPACT ON CLEMSON
S 153 – Senator Shoopman – A bill to enact the SC Truth in Spending Act – referred to the Senate Finance Committee. Clemson’s position: MONITORING TO DETERMINE IMPACT ON CLEMSON
S 172 – Senators Rose, Fair and Leatherman - A bill to requiring all institutions of higher education to maintain a detailed transaction register of all expenditures- passed by the Senate; pending in the House. Clemson’s position: SUPPORT
S 205 – Senators Davis and others – A bill to provide that state agencies must have approval by the General Assembly to increase fees or fines and to provide exceptions – referred to the Senate Finance Committee. Clemson’s position: MONITORING TO DETERMINE IMPACT ON CLEMSON
S 224 – Senator Knotts – A bill relating to free tuition for certain veterans' children, so as to also provide free tuition to children of certain active duty service members with honorable wartime service – Passed by the Senate Education Committee; now pending on the Senate calendar. Clemson’s position:MONITORING TO DETERMINE IMPACT ON CLEMSON
S 238 – Senators Larry Martin and Peeler - A bill to restructure SC state government – referred to the Senate Education Committee. Clemson’s position: MONITORING TO DETERMINE IMPACT ON CLEMSON
S 252 – Senator Bright – A bill to move Clemson PSA to the SC Department of Agriculture – referred to the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. Clemson’s position: OPPOSE
S 248 – Senator Bright – A bill to provide that an institution of higher learning must be funded by using the base student cost – pending in the Senate Education Committee. Clemson’s position: MONITORING TO DETERMINE IMPACT ON CLEMSON
S 406 – Senator Rose – A bill to provide that any across-the-board reduction must be applied to all appropriated funds including state funds, federal funds, and "other funds." - Referred to the Senate Finance Committee. Clemson’s position: OPPOSE
S 407 – Senator Rose - A bill to make appropriations and to provide revenues to meet the ordinary expenses of state government for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2010, to provide that, an amount equal to ten percent of "other funds" is transferred to the state general fund, and to specify how the transferred funds are to be appropriated – Referred to the Senate Finance Committee. Clemson’s position: OPPOSE
S 473 – Senators Lourie and Setzler – A bill relating to athlete agents and student athletes, to provide for inspection of out-of-state records, to require an applicant to undergo a national and state criminal history records check and to provide fingerprints, to provide for reporting and maintenance of criminal history records check results as well as other provisions – Passed favorably as amended by the Senate Education Committee; now pending on the Senate calendar. Clemson’s position: MONITORING TO DETERMINE IMPACT ON CLEMSON
S 483 – Senators McConnell and L. Martin – A bill related to broadband service – Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee. Clemson’s position: MONITORING TO DETERMINE IMPACT ON CLEMSON
S 531 – Senator Campsen and others – A bill to close the South Carolina Retirement System, the Retirement System For Judges And Solicitors, the Retirement System For Members Of The General Assembly Of The State Of South Carolina, the South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System, and the State Optional Retirement Program to employees hired or officers taking office after June 30, 2012, and to provide that officers or employees hired or taking office after June 30, 2012 must be enrolled in the South Carolina Retirement Investment Plan – Referred to the Senate Finance Committee. Clemson’s position: MONITORING TO DETERMINE IMPACT ON CLEMSON
S 632 – Senator Ford – A bill to provide that no more than twenty-five percent of the entering class of a public institution of higher learning of this state may be comprised of students who reside outside the state, and to exclude technical colleges from this provision – Referred to the Senate Education Committee. Clemson’s position: OPPOSE
FEDERAL UPDATE
This week, President Obama signed a two-week extension to the Continuing Resolution which will fund the Federal government through March 18th.
President Barker traveled to Washington and visited with each member of the South Carolina Delegation to share Clemson's concerns regarding proposed cuts affecting the cooperative extension service, Pell grants, and federal agencies from which the university receives funding.
Chuck Knefle, Clemson University’s Director of Financial Aid was also in Washington for meetings with the Department of Education and Capitol Hill visits with the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.
Clemson University, along with several other land grant universities will participate in meetings with minority and majority staff from the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee to communicate concerns related to proposed cuts for programmatic capacity dollars.
LOOKING AHEAD
Members of the Clemson Board of Visitors are scheduled to travel to Washington, DC for visits with the South Carolina Congressional Delegation March 7-9, 2011.
FYI
The House of Representatives approved H 3066, a bill to create a new Department of Administration. The new department would assume the functions of some smaller state agencies and some roles of the state Budget and Control Board. The House also approved a constitutional amendment that would let voters decide whether the governor should appoint the state superintendent of education or whether voters should continue to elect the state superintendent at-large. Finally, the House approved a proposal that would require the governor and lieutenant governor to run together on one ticket. All of these measures now go to the Senate for consideration.
The Clemson Advocates website, the Clemson Governmental Affairs website, and our Clemson Advocates Group Facebook page are constantly updated with news and information.
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