Month: April 2017

THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA
H.3722, a $498M Capital Projects Bond Bill is in interrupted debate in the House.  The bill currently includes projects listed below for Clemson University:
–      Daniel Hall Renovation      $10 million
–      Martin Hall Renovation      $15 million

THANK YOU for the calls you have made to your House members in support of the Bond Bill. You are making a positive difference in the direction of this legislation.

H.3516 (South Carolina Infrastructure and Economic Development Reform Act) is in interrupted debate in the Senate. As currently written, the bill increases the state’s gas tax by twelve cents per gallon, potentially generating $800 million per year to address the state’s roads and bridges.

BUDGET
The budget has returned to the South Carolina House of Representatives to concur or non-concur in the Senate amendments. The budget will then go to a conference committee which will negotiate the differences in the House and Senate versions.

Detailed information on Clemson’s 2017 state legislative and budget priorities for FY 2017-18 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.

FYI
Please follow CU at the Capitol on Twitter.

THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA
The South Carolina House and Senate were on furlough last week. The General Assembly will return in statewide session tomorrow.

This week marks the crossover date for the General Assembly. After the crossover deadline, bills require a two-thirds vote by members present and voting to even be considered by the other chamber for the session that is set to end on May 11.

On Wednesday, April 19, the House is expected to resume debate on H.3722, a $498M Capital Projects Bond Bill. The bill currently includes projects listed below for Clemson University:
–      Daniel Hall Renovation      $10 million
–      Martin Hall Renovation       $15 million

**PLEASE CALL YOUR HOUSE MEMBER AND ASK FOR THEIR SUPPORT ON THE BOND BILL. Contact information is included at the bottom of this email.**

H.3516 (South Carolina Infrastructure and Economic Development Reform Act) is in interrupted debate in the Senate. As currently written, the bill increases the state’s gas tax by twelve cents per gallon, potentially generating $800 million per year to address the state’s roads and bridges.

BUDGET
The budget returns this week to the South Carolina House of Representatives and then to a conference committee which will negotiate the differences in the House and Senate versions.

Detailed information on Clemson’s 2017 state legislative and budget priorities for FY 2017-18 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.

FYI
Please follow CU at the Capitol on Twitter.

THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA
The South Carolina House and Senate are on furlough this week. The General Assembly will return in statewide session on Tuesday, April 18.

Last week, the House adjourned debate until Wednesday, April 19 on H.3722, a $498M Capital Projects Bond Bill. The bill currently includes projects listed below for Clemson University:
–      Daniel Hall Renovation      $10 million
–      Martin Hall Renovation      $15 million

H.3516 (South Carolina Infrastructure and Economic Development Reform Act) is in interrupted debate in the Senate. As currently written, the bill increases the state’s gas tax by twelve cents per gallon, potentially generating $800 million per year to address the state’s roads and bridges.

COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION
The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (CHE) held its monthly meeting on Thursday, April 6. Interim Executive Director Gary Glenn formally retired from the agency after more than forty years of state service, the last 18 of which were with the Commission.

Jeff Schilz has been named Interim President and Executive Director of CHE. Schilz served on the Senior Staff of South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford from 2008-2011 in a variety of capacities including Policy Director, Budget Director and Cabinet Director.

Clemson University’s Business & Behavioral Science Building/Sirrine Hall Replacement was approved unanimously by the Finance and Facilities Committee, and also by the full Commission.

Clemson University’s program proposal for a Masters in Engineering-Civil Engineering with concentration in Risk Engineering and System Analytics received unanimous approval by the full Commission as part of the Committee on Academic Affairs and Licensing’s consent agenda.

BUDGET
The Senate completed their work on the state budget last week.

Below is a summary of the items impacting Clemson University:
Clemson E&G
–      Increase of $1.75 million in Clemson’s current base funding.
Clemson PSA
–      $1.1 million in recurring funding for Agriculture and Natural Resources Programming
–      $1.2 million in recurring funding for Statewide Extension Programming

The Senate’s version of the budget includes an increase in the cost of health insurance and an increase in retirement contributions for state employees and employers.  The employee portion of both the health insurance and retirement contribution increases will be paid by the state.

The Senate included $145 million from the state’s general fund to cover state agencies’ higher costs for the state pension retirement system.

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.

Detailed information on Clemson’s 2017 state legislative and budget priorities for FY 2017-18 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.

FYI
Please follow CU at the Capitol on Twitter.

This week marks the General Assembly’s crossover deadline for legislation to be sent to the opposite chamber from which it was introduced.

Last week, the House Ways and Means Committee introduced H.3722, a $498M Capital Projects Bond Bill. The bill includes projects listed below for Clemson University:
–      Daniel Hall Renovation      $10 million
–      Martin Hall Renovation      $15 million

The bill was reported out of Committee and is now on the House calendar.

H.3516 (South Carolina Infrastructure and Economic Development Reform Act) remains on the Senate calendar. Last week, in a vote of 23-18, the Senate refused to set the bill for special order. As currently written, the bill increases the state’s gas tax by twelve cents per gallon, potentially generating $800 million per year to address the state’s roads and bridges.

BUDGET
The Senate Finance Committee completed their work on the state budget last week.

Below is a summary of the items impacting Clemson University:

Clemson E&G
–      Increase of $1.75 million in Clemson’s current base funding.
Clemson PSA
–      $1.1 million in recurring funding for Agriculture and Natural Resources Programming
–      $1.2 million in recurring funding for Statewide Extension Programming

The Senate Finance Committee version of the budget includes an increase in the cost of health insurance and an increase in retirement contributions for state employees and employers.  The employee portion of both the health insurance and retirement contribution increases will be paid by the state.

The Senate is expected to begin work on the budget tomorrow morning.

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.

Detailed information on Clemson’s 2017 state legislative and budget priorities for FY 2017-18 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.

FYI
Please follow CU at the Capitol on Twitter.