THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA
The first session of the 124th General Assembly convened on Tuesday, January 12, 2021.
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.
The House of Representatives held their organizational session December 1. 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.
Three new committee members were named to the House Ways and Means Committee. Those new members include Representatives Chandra Dillard (D-Greenville), Craig Gagnon (R-Abbeville) and Lee Hewitt (R-Georgetown).
The House pre-filed legislation on December 9 and 16.
The Senate pre-filed legislation on December 9.
Executive Budget
Governor Henry McMaster released his Executive Budget proposal for 2021-22 on Friday, January 8, 2021. Below are items in the Governor’s budget as they relate to Clemson University and higher education:
For Clemson E&G and Clemson PSA:
– No base increases to either of Clemson’s budgets
– The FY 2021-22 Executive Budget dedicates the entirety of the Capital Reserve Fund, $176,095,044, to capital improvement projects at South Carolina’s institutions of higher education
For Higher Education:
– $60,000,000 in lottery dollars for need-based grants at CHE;
– $20,000,000 in lottery dollars for tuition grants at the Higher Education Tuition Grants Commission;
– $750,000 in lottery dollars for scholarships for students with intellectual disabilities attending College Transition Programs (Clemson LIFE was cited as an example)
State of the State Address
Governor Henry McMaster delivered his State of the State address on Wednesday, January 13, 2021. The prepared text of the Governor’s remarks may be found here.
The State Budget Process
The House Ways and Means Committee (where the appropriations bill originates) began agency budget subcommittee hearings last week and will continue this process through January.
President Jim Clements, along with Tony Wagner (Executive Vice President for Finance and Operations) will give Clemson’s Education and General (E&G) budget presentation to the Ways and Means Higher Education Subcommittee on Tuesday, January 26.
Clemson PSA’s budget hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, January 20 before the Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee. President Clements, along with Dr. George Askew (Vice President for PSA) will be presenting virtually 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 David Weeks (D-Sumter)
Representative Lee Hewitt (R-Georgetown)
Staff: Michael Jackson
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 2021-22 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.
NEWS AND FYI
Please follow CU at the Capitol on Twitter. Current news coverage of interest may be found here.