There are 6 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) was signed by Governor McMaster. The bill grants a safe harbor from liability for employers who follow guidance published by state health agencies.
A Senate Judiciary Subcommittee approved the Clementa C. Pinckney Hate Crimes Act (H.3620). The bill now goes to the full Senate Judiciary Committee.
Military Tuition Rates (S.241) was passed by the House and is now enrolled for ratification. The House concurred in the Senate amendment to Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Eligibility (H.3017). The bill is now enrolled for ratification. Student ID Card Suicide Prevention Act (S.231) was passed by the Senate and sent to the House where it was referred to the House Education Committee.
LEGISLATION OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO CLEMSON
Reinforcing College Education on America’s Constitutional Heritage Act (S.38), requires 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 has been signed by the Governor.
Intercollegiate Athletes Compensation for Name, Image and Likeness (S.685) which allows college athletes to be paid for ads or sponsorships, was passed by the House and is enrolled for ratification.
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 awaits consideration on the Senate Calendar.
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 South Carolina Senate completed its work on the state budget on Thursday, April 29, 2021.
The Senate adopted the Senate Finance version of the budget for higher education and includes the following specifically for Clemson University and Clemson PSA:
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 slots through SREB for Vet School. 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 Greenhouse Construction (not funded by the House)
The Senate 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 Senate’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 Senate also included a 2% across the board pay increase for state employees.
The Senate 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 (Clemson LIFE)
The budget now returns to the House for concurrence or nonconcurrence in the Senate amendments. If the House votes to non-concur in the Senate amendments, a conference committee will be appointed to negotiate the differences in the House and Senate versions.
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.
