Clemson mourns the passing of Senator Billy O’Dell who died last week. Senator O’Dell was a strong supporter of Clemson University and Clemson PSA. We are grateful for his leadership and service. Senator O’Dell was a dear friend to Clemson and we join his family and the entire state in grieving this tremendous loss.
THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA
The second session of the 120th General Assembly convened on Tuesday, January 12th.
This is the second year of a two-year session which means those bills introduced in 2015 retain their places on the calendar and in committee and are carried over to this year. Annual legislative sessions are held from the second Tuesday in January until the first Thursday in June.
2016 is an election year for entire General Assembly.
The House pre-filed legislation on December 3 and 10, 2015.
The Senate pre-filed legislation on December 2 and 9, 2015.
OFF-SESSION UPDATE
H.3249 (Board of Regents) was pre-filed in the House of Representatives last session and was referred to the House Education and Public Works Committee. This bill would create a board of regents governing system for public higher education institutions in South Carolina.
A special ad hoc committee of the House Education and Public Works Committee was appointed to study the bill. The House Higher Education Ad Hoc Committee was chaired by Representative Bill Taylor (R-Aiken). Committee members included Representatives Jeff Bradley (R-Beaufort), Robert Brown (D-Charleston), Gary Clary (Clemson ’70) (R-Pickens), Raye Felder (R-York), Wayne George (D-Marion), Jeff Johnson (R-Horry), Harold Mitchell (D-Spartanburg) and Don Wells (R-Aiken).
The Committee met throughout the fall to hear testimony from a variety of groups and leaders in the higher education community. Along with several of his fellow public college and university presidents, Clemson President Jim Clements testified before the Committee on November 13.
During its final meeting in December, the Committee voted to adjourn debate on H.3249.
Also last session, a budget proviso established a Joint Capital Bond Study Committee to review the state’s bonding capacity and funding needs by state agencies.
The Committee was chaired by Senator Harvey Peeler (Clemson ’70) (R-Cherokee). Members of the Committee included Senator Thomas Alexander (Clemson ’78) (R-Oconee), Senator Vincent Sheheen (Clemson ’93) (D-Kershaw), Representative Jim Merrill (R-Berkeley), Representative Gary Clary (Clemson ’70) (R-Pickens), and Representative Todd Rutherford (D-Richland).
The Committee met three times during the fall and heard testimony from Rick Harmon (Director of Capital Planning, State Department of Administration), State Treasurer Curtis Loftis, Frank Rainwater (Clemson ’83) (Executive Director of the State Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office), Gary Glenn (Interim Executive Director of the Commission on Higher Education), and Brenda Hart (Director of the Executive Budget Office).
BUDGET
Governor Haley to Release FY 2016-17 Executive Budget
Governor Nikki Haley (Clemson ’94) is expected to release her Executive Budget proposal for 2016-17 today. We will send an update on the impact of the Executive Budget on Clemson University and the higher education community next week.
The State Budget Process
The House Ways and Means Committee (where the appropriations bill originates) will begin agency budget subcommittee hearings this week and will continue this process through January.
Clemson PSA’s budget hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, January 20th before the Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee. President Clements, along with Dr. George Askew (Vice President for PSA) will be presenting before the Subcommittee.
President Jim Clements is scheduled to give Clemson’s Education and General (E&G) budget presentation to the Ways and Means Higher Education Subcommittee on Tuesday, February 2nd.
House Ways and Means Subcommittees that will hear Clemson’s budget requests:
Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee (Clemson PSA):
Representative Gary Simrill, Chairman (R-York)
Representative Dwight Loftis (R-Greenville)
Representative Leon Stavrinakis (D-Charleston)
Staff: AJ Newton
Higher Education Subcommittee (Clemson E&G):
Representative Jim Merrill, Chairman (R-Charleston)
Representative Philip Lowe (R-Florence)
Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D-Orangeburg)
Staff: Kara Brurok
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 Service and Agriculture (PSA) division that receives a state appropriation to support agriculture, forestry and natural resource Extension, research and regulatory programs.
The university also has auxiliary operations, such as athletics, student housing and dining services, which receive no state funding and must generate all of their own revenue.
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.
FYI
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Click here to view the FEDERAL UPDATE for January 15, 2016.