Legislative Update

June 29, 2012

THIS WEEK

The South Carolina General Assembly continued in statewide session this week. 

Governor Haley signed the SC Retirement System bill (H 4967) into law this week. 

Please refer to this link for detailed information on the new law.

BUDGET

The House and Senate adopted the Budget Conference Report on Thursday, June 28. 

The Budget Conference Report includes the following specifically for Clemson University:

Clemson E&G

• $3 million in nonrecurring funding for the Grid Simulator Project at the Clemson University Restoration Institute (CURI) 
• $2 million in nonrecurring funding for our research partnership with the Greenwood Genetics Center
• $4.49 million in nonrecurring funding for Deferred Maintenance

Clemson PSA

• $4 million in nonrecurring funding for lab renovations at the Pee Dee Research and Education Center in Florence for advanced plant technology research.

$1.75 million in (EIA) nonrecurring funding for STEM education efforts in grades K-12 was also included for South Carolina’s Coalition for Science and Mathematics associated with Clemson's College of Engineering and Science.

The Budget Conference Report includes a state employee pay increase of 3 percent and covers the full cost of state employee health insurance increase.

The Conference Report also includes funding for the current endowed chairs associated with the South Carolina Department of Commerce. 

The budget now goes to the Governor who will have five days, excluding Sunday, to issue vetoes (line item) or sign the bill. 

This week, the House and Senate passed a continuing resolution that would allow state government to continue operating at current funding levels if a budget is not finalized by the July 1 start of the new fiscal year.  

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 state legislative and budget priorities for FY 2012-13 may be found at these links: 

Clemson Education and General (E&G) 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.  Click on the bill number for more details and tracking information (statuses of bills that have been acted upon in the last legislative week are italicized): 

H 3508 – Representative Gambrell and others – A bill relating to Broadband service in underserved areas of South Carolina.  Passed by the House and Senate. Ratified. Clemson’s position: MONITORED TO DETERMINE IMPACT ON CLEMSON

H 4967 - House Ways and Means Committee – South Carolina Retirement System bill.  Signed by the Governor.  Clemson’s position:  MONITORED TO DETERMINE IMPACT ON CLEMSON

WASHINGTON UPDATE

On Thursday June 28, 2012 the Supreme Court upheld the 2010 health care law.   Twenty six states had challenged the individual mandate provision of the law but a 5-4 ruling confirmed that this was legal under Congress’ taxing authority. 

For more information on Clemson’s Federal initiatives, please contact Katy Bayless at Bayless@clemson.edu.   

FYI

The Clemson Advocates website, the Clemson Governmental Affairs website, and our Clemson Advocates Group Facebook page are constantly updated with news and information.