THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA
The first session of the 123rd General Assembly convened on Tuesday, January 8 with a Tiger Paw flag flying high atop the State House dome!
This is the first year of a two year session which means those bills introduced during this legislative session will carry over until next year as well. Each legislative session is held from the second Tuesday in January until the second Thursday in May.
Senator Harvey Peeler (R-Cherokee) Clemson ’70 was elected unanimously as the first President of the South Carolina Senate. Previously, the Lt. Governor presided over the Senate.
On Wednesday, January 9, Henry McMaster was inaugurated for his first full term as Governor of South Carolina. Also sworn into office were Lt. Governor Pamela Evette and the state’s constitutional officers. The prepared text of Governor McMaster’s inaugural address may be found here.
The House of Representatives held their organizational session December 4-5. During that session, Rep. Jay Lucas (R-Darlington) was re-elected Speaker of the House. The House also received committee assignments, and met as standing committees to elect officers.
Representative Murrell Smith (R-Sumter) was elected Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. Three new committee members were named to the House Ways and Means Committee. Those new members include Representative Bruce Bannister (R-Greenville), Representative Dennis Moss (R-Cherokee) and Representative David Weeks (D-Sumter)
The House pre-filed legislation on December 18.
The Senate organized on December 4-5.
The Senate pre-filed legislation on December 12.
The State Budget Process
The House Ways and Means Committee (where the appropriations bill originates) began agency budget subcommittee hearings this week and will continue this process through January.
President Jim Clements, along with Steve Crump (Interim Vice President and Chief Financial Officer) will give Clemson’s Education and General (E&G) budget presentation to the Ways and Means Higher Education Subcommittee on Wednesday, January 16.
Clemson PSA’s budget hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, January 16 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.
House Ways and Means Subcommittees that will hear Clemson’s budget requests:
Higher Education Subcommittee:
Chairman Gary Simrill (R-York)
Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D-Orangeburg)
Representative Kirkman Finlay (R-Richland)
Staff: AJ Newton
Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee:
Chairman Leon Stavrinakis (D-Charleston)
Representative Dwight Loftis (R-Greenville)
Representative Alan Clemmons (R-Horry)
Representative David Weeks (D-Sumter)
Staff: Alyssa Weeks
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 state legislative and budget priorities for FY 2019-20 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.
THE SOUTH CAROLINA COMMISSION OF HIGHER EDUCATION (CHE)
In November, following the resignation of former Chairman Tim Hofferth, former Senator Wes Hayes was appointed Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education (CHE) by Governor Henry McMaster. In December, Governor McMaster appointed new At-Large Commissioners Charles Dalton Clemson ’64 and Ben Satcher Clemson ’82. All new appointees began their service immediately pending confirmation by the Senate. Last week, the Commission announced that Mike LeFever has been named Interim Executive Director and President of CHE. LeFever succeeds Jeff Schilz, who resigned as Executive Director and President of CHE in December.
NEWS AND FYI
Please follow CU at the Capitol on Twitter. Current news coverage of interest may be found here.