Legislative Update
March 27, 2009
BUDGET
Budget Subcommittees of the Senate Finance Committee continued to meet this week. The full Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to meet on Monday, March 30th to consider the Appropriations bill.
On Wednesday, Clemson, USC and MUSC as the three research universities made a presentation to a joint meeting of the Senate Education Committee and the Higher Education Subcommittee of the Senate Finance Committee. All three presidents spoke on the collaborative efforts between the three research universities as well as the impact of the current budget cuts, the need for stimulus funds, a bond bill, and regulatory reform. Callie Boyd, Student Body President and Trustees Lawrence Gressette, Tom McTeer, Joe Swann, Bill Smith, Louis Lynn, Bob Peeler, and Nicky McCarter attended in support
HOT BILLS
H.3013 – Representative Limehouse and others – A bill to increase the penalty for removing or destroying fences or gates that enclose animals, crops or uncultivated land – given a favorable report by the House Judiciary Committee.
H.3104 – Representatives Murrell Smith and Joan Brady – A bill to create a SC College and University Board of Regents – pending in the House Education and Public Works Committee.
H.3147 – Representative Garry Smith and others – A bill to restructure state government by creating a Department of Administration – given a favorable report by the House Judiciary Committee.
H.3584 – Representative Harrell and others – A bill to raise the cigarette tax by 50 cents per pack – given a favorable report by the House Ways and Means Committee.
H.3365 – Representative Cooper – This bill provides regulatory reform for the state supported research universities and the four year comprehensive institutions in SC. This bill is a collaborative effort by these institutions to propose regulatory reform in the areas of human resources, facilities, finance and procurement – amended and given a favorable report by the House Ways and Means Committee.
H.3378 – Representative Cooper and others – A bill to provide for the terms and conditions of mandatory state agency furlough programs – given a favorable report by the Senate Finance Committee.
H. 3397 – Representative Garry Smith and others – A bill to set an annual spending limit on the appropriation of state general fund revenues and establish a spending limit reserve fund– pending in the House Ways and Means Committee.
H.3415 – Representative Harrell and others – A bill to establish the SC Tax Realignment Commission to conduct a comprehensive study of the state’s tax system – pending in the House Ways and Means Committee.
S.1 – Senator McConnell and others – A Joint Resolution to amend the SC Constitution to establish spending limits and establish a budget stabilization fund – given a favorable report by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
S.2 – Senator McConnell and others – This bill implements an annual limit on the appropriation of state general fund revenues – pending in the Senate Finance Committee
S.12 – Senator Leatherman and others – This bill creates the Taxation Realignment Commission to conduct a comprehensive study of the state’s tax system – amended and given a favorable report by the House Ways and Means Committee.
S.84 – Senator Ford – A bill that would allow arrest warrants to be made available for public inspection and copying without a written request if the requestor appears in person – tabled by a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee.
S. 147 – Senators Campsen and Elliot – A bill to require the passage of a joint resolution prior allowing a bond authorization prior to the introduction and passage of a bill or joint resolution to authorize bonds for a given year – given an unfavorable report by the Sales and Income Taxation Subcommittee of the Senate Finance Committee.
S.182 – Senator Setzler and others – This bill is similar to S.12 and creates a permanent Tax Research Commission to study and make recommendations on sales tax exemptions and the state’s tax system – continued by the Senate Finance Committee.
S.268 – Senator McConnell – A bill to clarify building code inspection procedures – pending in the House Labor, Commerce, and Industry Committee.
S.351 – Senator Grooms – A bill to restructure the organization of the SC State Ports Authority – pending in the House Judiciary Committee.
S.452 – Senator Campbell and others – A bill relating to SC surface water withdrawal and reporting – pending in the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.
S.517 – Senator Davis and others – A Joint Resolution requiring certain fees charged by state agencies that are set by regulation to be approved by the General Assembly – amended to more narrowly define the type of fees and given a favorable report by the Senate Finance Committee.
S.577 – Senator Leatherman and others – A Concurrent Resolution to allow the General Assembly to accept federal stimulus funds if the Governor fails to certify in the required period of time that he will request these funds – given a favorable report by the Senate Finance Committee.
For a complete list of bills being tracked by Governmental Affairs please go to the State Relations page of the Office of Governmental Affairs Web site: http://www.clemson.edu/governmentalaffairs/.
FYI
On Tuesday, the Budget and Finance Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee gave a favorable report to H.3365, the Higher Education Efficiency and Accountability Act. Clemson and Coastal Carolina testified before the Subcommittee in support of the bill. The full Ways and Means Committee gave approval to the bill on Thursday. The bill now goes to the full House for consideration.
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