The South Carolina House of Representatives will not meet this week. The House will return in statewide session on April 6. The Senate will not meet on Thursday, April 1.
LAST WEEK IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The House of Representatives completed its work on the state budget on Wednesday, March 24, 2021.
The House adopted the Ways and Means version of the budget for higher education and includes the following specifically for Clemson University and Clemson PSA:
Clemson E&G
– $25 million in nonrecurring funding for maintenance, renovation, and replacement
Clemson PSA
– $990,000 in nonrecurring funding for Sandhill Recreation Research and Extension Building Repair
The House included a proviso that provides colleges and universities with regulatory relief by increasing the state’s fixed permanent improvement project dollar threshold that currently triggers the state’s multi-phased, eight-step approval process for permanent improvement projects from $1 million to $5 million for research universities, allowing smaller, more routine capital projects to be undertaken in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
The House 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 will be paid by the state. The employer portion of both will have to be covered partially by the university.
Several Executive Budget items that impact the University were included:
– $60M in recurring lottery dollars for need based grants at the Commission on Higher Education
– $20M in recurring tuition grants at the Higher Education Tuition Grants Commission
– $750,000 in recurring lottery dollars for students with intellectual disabilities attending college transition programs
The budget now goes to the Senate Finance Committee.
Last week, President Jim Clements, along with Tony Wagner (Executive Vice President for Finance and Operations) delivered Clemson’s Education and General (E&G) budget presentation before the Senate Finance Higher Education Subcommittee.
Clemson PSA’s budget hearing was also held last week. President Clements, along with Dr. George Askew (Vice President for PSA) presented before the Senate Finance Natural Resources and Economic Development Subcommittee.
Senate Finance Subcommittees that hear Clemson’s budget requests:
Higher Education Subcommittee:
Chairman Harvey Peeler (R-Cherokee) (Clemson ’70)
Senator Darrell Jackson (D-Richland)
Senator John Scott (D-Richland)
Senator Ross Turner (R-Greenville) (Clemson ’86)
Senator Tom Corbin (R-Greenville) (Clemson ’87)
Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee:
Chairman Nikki Setzler (D-Lexington)
Senator Kent Williams (D-Marion)
Senator Tom Corbin (R-Greenville) (Clemson ’87)
Senator Katrina Shealy (R-Lexington)
Senator Mike Gambrell (R-Anderson) (Clemson ’80)
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
LEGISLATION 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 passed by the House Education Committee and now heads to the House floor.
The State Institution of Higher Education Efficiency Act (S.376) remains on the Senate statewide contested calendar. 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.
Intercollegiate Athletes Compensation for Name, Image and Likeness (S.685) which would allow college athletes to be paid for ads or sponsorships, was passed by a Senate Education Subcommittee. Clemson’s Athletic Director, Dan Radakovich testified on the bill. The bill will be before the full Senate Education Committee on Wednesday.
BILLS OF INTEREST
The General Assembly’s crossover deadline is April 10. After the crossover deadline, bills require a two-thirds vote by members present and voting to be considered by the other chamber for the session that is set to end on May 13.
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.