THIS WEEK IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
After several days of debate, the Senate passed S.491, a $550 million bond package for the Port of Charleston. The bill, now headed for the House, would fund improvements to bring rail access to the docks at Port of Charleston and reduce truck traffic at and around the port from businesses importing and exporting goods.
In addition to the ports legislation, the Senate passed COVID-19 Liability Safe Harbor (S.147) that provides liability protections for healthcare providers and businesses that follow public health guidance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The House passed legislation (H.3443) to limit and modernize the governor’s powers to declare states of emergency.
OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO CLEMSON
Reinforcing College Education On America’s Constitutional Heritage Act (S.38), which would require institutions of higher learning to provide instruction concerning the United States Constitution, the Federalist Papers, Declaration of Independence and the Emancipation Proclamation to each undergraduate student for three semester credit hours was reported favorably as amended by the full Senate Education Committee on February 24. The bill now goes to the Senate floor.
The State Institution of Higher Education Efficiency Act (S.376) was reported favorably out of Senate Education Committee on Wednesday, February 24. This legislation would allow Clemson and other universities in the state the necessary flexibility to operate in the areas of capital projects in order to be free of some of the current layers of state oversight, while still being accountable to the General Assembly.
THE STATE BUDGET PROCESS
The House Ways and Means Committee will debate the budget this week.
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 CLEMSON IS TRACKING
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.