| THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA The Senate met in perfunctory session last week and returns in statewide session tomorrow. The House is on furlough this week. H. 3927 (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) was passed by the House and sent to the Senate where it awaits a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee. This bill: Prohibits state agencies, local governments, and universities from violating federal discrimination laws with initiatives promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. Requires private businesses with government contracts to certify they do not violate federal discrimination laws. Defines the term ‘DEI’ as any preferences, mandates, policies, programs, activities, guidance, regulations, enforcement actions, consent orders, or requirements implemented by a public entity that constitutes illegal discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Clarifies that DEI considerations are not allowed in hiring or enrollment decisions. Prohibits mandated employee participation in DEI programs or training. Requires institutions of higher learning to pursue a different accrediting agency if its current accrediting agency requires DEI programming. Allows the Inspector General to investigate, address, or enforce any allegations of violations and requires that public entities report these complaints to the Department of Administration annually. H.3309 (South Carolina Energy Security Act) passed the Senate on April 3 and now returns to the House. 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. This bill: Changes the responsibilities of the Public Service Commission (PSC) related to oversight of energy efficiency and demand-side resources and allows for the establishment of a small modular nuclear reactor pilot program. Establishes the South Carolina Energy Policy Research and Economic Development Institute (EPI) at the University of South Carolina. The six-member board of the EPI consists of legislative leadership or their designees. Requires the EPI to collaborate with the Energy Center at Clemson for research funding opportunities, academic programming and job training for future workforce needs. THE STATE BUDGET PROCESS The Senate Finance Committee completed its work on the state budget on Wednesday, April 9. The specific budget recommendations impacting Clemson are as follows: Clemson E&G Recurring: $12.2 million in recurring funding for in state tuition mitigation (House recommended $10.2 million) $2 million in recurring funding for Student Experiential Learning (House recommended $2 million nonrecurring) $4 million in recurring funding for the Snow Institute for the Study of Capitalism (House recommended $2.5 million) $500,000 in recurring funding for Call Me MISTER (House recommended $1.4 million) $500,000 in recurring funding for the Clemson Energy Center (House did not recommend funding) Clemson E&G Nonrecurring: $40 million in nonrecurring funding for the NextGen Computing Complex (House recommended $13.2 million) *$1 in nonrecurring funding for the Science Lab Building (House recommended $4.3 million) $4 million in nonrecurring funding for Maintenance, Renovation and Replacement (House did not recommend funding) *amount reflects a placeholder to allow for negotiations with the House Clemson PSA Recurring: $600,000 in recurring funding for Statewide Operational and Programmatic Support (House recommended $600,000) $1 million in recurring funding for Food Safety and Nutrition Agents (House recommended $1 million) $500,000 in recurring funding for Critical Vehicles & Equipment (House recommended $500,000) Clemson PSA Nonrecurring: $3 million in nonrecurring funding for Planned Maintenance and Critical Infrastructure (House did not recommend funding) Other Budget Items of Interest: $3.5 million in recurring lottery dollars for College Transition Program scholarships (like ClemsonLIFE). $10 million in recurring lottery dollars for the continuation of the initiative to address the shortage of nursing instructors. Recommends increasing base pay for university employees by 2%. Flexibility remains for universities to reward an average of 2% based on merit for unclassified employees. Recommends no increases in health insurance for state employees. The budget now goes to the Senate which is scheduled to debate the bill the week of April 21st. 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. BILLS OF INTEREST The Clemson University Governmental Affairs office is monitoring several bills that have a potential impact on Clemson. A complete listing of these bills may be found here: VIEW BILLS. NEWS & FYI Please follow ClemsonGovAff on Twitter. |
