THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA
House Ways and Means Chairman, Brian White (R-Anderson) and House Ways and Means Higher Education Budget Subcommittee Chairman, Jim Merrill (R-Berkeley), introduced H.5217 (Higher Education Bond Bill). The bill was introduced as a shell bill so no specific projects are included at this time.
The House Higher Education Subcommittee adjourned debate on H.4833 (Higher Education Governance Act). With this action, the bill is effectively “dead” for this legislative session.
The House Education and Public Works Committee passed H.4795 (Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Program) favorably as amended. The bill now goes to the House floor.
The Senate Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee passed S.1177 (Licensure of Architects). The bill now goes to the Senate floor.
H.4717 (Farm Aid Bill) remains on the Senate calendar for second reading with an objection by Senator Tom Davis (R-Beaufort).
The House amended H.3579 (Transportation Infrastructure) and returned the bill to the Senate. The Senate had previously amended the bill to eliminate a tax increase to pay for road funding and instead required that the legislature appropriate $400 million in general funds annually to supplement the Transportation Department budget. The House vote dictates that the bill cannot be amended again. The Senate must vote to concur or not concur. If the Senate concurs, the bill goes to the governor for her signature. If the Senate does not concur, the bill will go to a conference committee to resolve the differences in the two versions.
The State Budget Process
The Senate Finance Committee began their work on the state budget last week. They will continue budget deliberations this week.
Detailed information on Clemson’s 2016 state legislative and budget priorities for FY 2016-17 may be found at these links:
Clemson Education and General (E&G) Priorities
Clemson Public Service and Agriculture (PSA) Priorities
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.
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The Clemson Advocates website is constantly updated with news and information.
Click here to view the FEDERAL UPDATE for April 18, 2016.