Clemson Advocates Legislative Update--January 21, 2014
Story Date: 1/21/2014

January 21, 2014 THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA The 120th session of the General Assembly convened on Tuesday, January 14th. This is the second year of a two-year session which means those bills introduced in 2013 retained their places on the calendar and are carried over to this year.  Annual legislative sessions are held from the second Tuesday in January until the first Thursday in June.  On Wednesday, the Conference Committee on S.22 (Government Restructuring) reached a compromise on the legislation.  The compromise moves administrative functions of government to a Department of Administration that reports directly to the governor.  The compromise must still be approved by the House and Senate before it is sent to the governor. The House Ways and Means K-16 Building Need and Utilization Study Committee met on Thursday, January 16. This committee is conducting a review of institutional planning, management, and funding of facility maintenance needs by South Carolina's public colleges and universities.  Chief Financial Officers from some of the state's public colleges and universities participated in a panel discussion.  Brett Dalton, Clemson University's Vice President for Finance and Operations was featured on the panel.  The committee did not take substantive action during their meeting. Governor Nikki Haley (Clemson ’94) will deliver her third annual State of the State address on Wednesday evening, January 22.  We will recap the State of the State as it relates to higher education, Clemson University, and Clemson PSA and provide the prepared text of the Governor’s remarks in next week’s update. BUDGET President Jim Clements gave Clemson's Education and General (E&G) budget presentation to the Ways and Means Higher Education Subcommittee on Tuesday, January 14th.  Undergraduate Student Body President Kayley Seawright  joined President Clements in making the presentation.  The prepared text of their remarks may be found here.   Clemson PSA's budget hearing was held Wednesday, January 15th before the Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee.  President Clements and Dr. George Askew (Associate Vice President for PSA) delivered Clemson PSA's presentation before the Subcommittee.  The prepared text of their remarks may be found here. House Ways and Means Subcommittees that hear Clemson's budget requests: Higher Education Subcommittee: Representative Chip Limehouse, Chairman (R-Charleston) Representative B.R. Skelton (Clemson ’56, ’58) (R-Pickens) Representative Garry Smith (R-Greenville) Representative Jimmy Bales (D-Richland) Staff:  Blythe Littlefield Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee: Representative Gary Simrill, Chairman (R-York) Representative Dwight Loftis (R-Greenville) Representative Leon Stavrinakis (D-Charleston) Staff:  Daniel Boan 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 2014 state legislative and budget priorities for FY 2014-15 may be found at these links: Clemson Education and General (E&G) Priorities Clemson Public Service Activities (PSA) Priorities THE CLEMSON UNIVERSITY ENTERPRISE ACT The Clemson University Enterprise Act (S.535) was passed by the Senate in May and sent to the House and referred to House Ways and Means Committee.  The Committee has not yet taken action on the bill. BILLS OF INTEREST The Clemson University Governmental Affairs office is monitoring several bills 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 Friday, January 17, representatives of Clemson PSA and the Cooperative Extension Service participated in a lunch roundtable with Congressman Tom Rice (R-SC District 7) in conjunction with the South Carolina Agribiz and Farm Expo in Florence. FYI "Like" us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. The Clemson Advocates website and the Clemson University Governmental Affairs website are also constantly updated with news and information.