March 11, 2013 

THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA

The House adjourned debate on H.3163 (Freedom of Information Act) until March 19. 

H.3518 (Accountability Based Funding for Colleges & Universities) was reported out of a House Education subcommittee.  

H.3086 (In-State Tuition-Military) was reported out of the House Education Committee. 

The Senate Finance Higher Education Special Study Committee on Deferred Maintenance met last week.  This committee is conducting a review of institutional planning, management, and funding of facility maintenance needs by South Carolina’s public colleges and universities.  The Citadel, MUSC and Coastal Carolina University testified before the committee last week. 

The House and Senate will be on furlough from March 26-April 4 (the weeks before and after Easter) and will return in statewide session on April 9. 

BUDGET

The full House of Representatives is scheduled to begin work on the budget today. 

As a reminder, the House Ways and Means Committee’s version of the budget contained the following specifically for Clemson University: 

Clemson E&G

• $3 million in recurring funding for the Center for Energy Systems at the Clemson University Restoration Institute (CURI) 
• $1 million in nonrecurring funding for Undergraduate Student Engagement Programs

Clemson PSA

• $1 million in recurring funding for Advanced Plant Technology at the Pee Dee Research and Education Center in Florence, SC
• $3 million in nonrecurring funding for the Advanced Plant Technology Laboratory at the Pee Dee Research and Education Center in Florence, SC
• $500,000 in recurring funding for Precision Agriculture
• $300,000 in recurring funding for the Veterinary Diagnostic Center at Livestock-Poultry Health in Columbia, SC

Other

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

The committee did not include a cost of living pay increase for state employees in their version of the budget.  

The committee’s version of the budget includes a 6.8% increase in the cost of health insurance for state employees, which would be paid by the state.  Under this plan, state employees would see a 20% co-pay increase. 

The Senate Finance Committee has begun agency budget subcommittee hearings and will continue this process through early April. 

On Wednesday, March 13, Dr. John Kelly, Vice President for Economic Development, and Dr. George Askew will present Clemson PSA’s legislative and budget priorities at a hearing before the Senate Finance Budget Subcommittee on Natural Resources.  Members of the subcommittee include Senator Yancey McGill (Chairman), Senator Larry Grooms (Clemson ’87), Senator Kent Williams, and Senator Paul Campbell (Clemson ’68). 

Detailed information on Clemson’s 2013 state legislative and budget priorities for FY 2013-14 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 monitors several bills weekly that have potential impact on Clemson.  A complete listing of these bills may be found here.  Click on the bill number for a description of the legislation, along with the bill’s current status. 

WASHINGTON UPDATE

On Wednesday, March 6th, the House passed HR 933, the FY13 Department of Defense, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act by a 267-151 margin.  The bill puts the FY13 Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs/Military Construction Appropriations bills in place for the remainder of the fiscal year and funds the rest of the government under a Continuing Resolution at FY12 budget numbers.  

The bill will now be sent to the Senate where Senator Mikulski, the new Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has talked about adding additional FY13 appropriations bills to it beyond the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs/Military Construction Appropriations bills before moving it to the Senate floor.  

On March 6th, President Obama hosted a dinner with a group of Republican Senators, including Senator Lindsey Graham. 

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

FYI

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