There are 9 legislative days left in the session. By law, the General Assembly must adjourn sine die at 5 o’clock on Thursday, May 13 but may return to finish work on the budget or other items agreed upon by both bodies. Since this is the first year of a two-year session, bills that did not pass this session will retain their current status and be carried over to the 2022 session.
LAST WEEK IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The South Carolina Covid-19 Liability Safe Harbor Act (S.147) passed the General Assembly and now goes to Governor McMaster for his signature. The bill would grant a safe harbor from liability for employers who follow guidance published by state health agencies, making it much more difficult for an employee or guest of a company to sue over a coronavirus infection.
A Senate Judiciary Subcommittee approved the Clementa C. Pinckney Hate Crimes Act (H.3620).
Military Tuition Rates (S.241) was passed by the House Education Committee. Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Eligibility (H.3017) was passed as amended by the Senate and returned to the House. Student ID Card Suicide Prevention Act (S.231) was passed by the Senate and sent to the House.
LEGISLATION OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO CLEMSON
Reinforcing College Education on America’s Constitutional Heritage Act (S.38), would require institutions of higher learning to provide instruction concerning the United States Constitution, the Federalist Papers, Declaration of Independence and the Emancipation Proclamation and other documents foundational to the African American Freedom Struggle to each undergraduate student for three semester credit hours. The bill was passed as amended by the House and returned to the Senate. The Senate voted to concur in the House amendments. The bill is now enrolled for ratification.
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 the House Education Committee and now heads to the House floor. Clemson’s Deputy Director of Athletics, Graham Neff testified before the Committee on behalf of the bill.
Clemson University State Crop Pest Commission–Asian Longhorned Beetle (H.4098) would approve regulations related to the Asian Longhorned Beetle quarantine which is necessary in South Carolina to aid eradication efforts, prevent additional pest spread, and save the many more yet to be affected trees in the state. The joint resolution was approved by the Senate Agriculture Committee.
The State Institution of Higher Education Efficiency Act (S.376) remains on the Senate statewide contested calendar and did not make the April 10 crossover deadline. 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 Senate Finance Committee completed its work on the state budget on Tuesday, April 20, 2021.
Below is a summary of the items impacting Clemson University:
Clemson E&G
– $44 million in nonrecurring funding for maintenance, renovation and replacement (House funded $25 million)
– $4.8 million in recurring funding for in state tuition mitigation (not funded by the House)
– Up to $1million in nonrecurring funding for rural health programming through the Department of Health and Human Services (by proviso) (not funded by the House)
*an additional $2.8M in recurring funding for 20 additional vet school slots through the Southern Regional Education Board. Clemson supported this request by the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians.
Clemson PSA
– $990,000 in nonrecurring funding for Sandhill REC Research and Extension Building Repair (same as House)
– $1.1 million in recurring funding for Statewide Comprehensive Extension Program Support (not funded by the House)
– $1.4 million in recurring funding for Critical Fruit and Vegetable Research (not funded by the House)
– $2 million in nonrecurring funding for Pee Dee REC Research and Extension Building Repairs (not funded by the House)
The Committee 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 Committee’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 will be paid by the state. The employer portion of both will have to be covered partially by the university.
The Committee also included a 2% across the board pay increase for state employees.
The Committee included several items from the Executive Budget of impact to the University:
– $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 (like Clemson LIFE)
The budget now goes to the Senate where debate will begin tomorrow.
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.
