Legislative Update

April 24, 2009

BUDGET

The Senate Finance Committee completed their work on the budget last week and the full Senate began debating the budget this week. The Senate Finance Committee used most of the federal stimulus funds for K-12 education, higher education. Clemson PSA and several other smaller agencies also received a portion of these one-time stimulus funds. Clemson E&G received no further base cut and $14.7 million in stimulus funds. Clemson PSA received a base cut of $2.4 million; however, the Committee approved $2.5 million in stimulus funds.

Senator Ryberg and Senator Davis are proposing an alternative version of the budget that funded K-12 education, health care, and public safety. They propose cutting Clemson PSA by $21.8 million. Higher education remains at its current level of funding which includes the budget reductions to date.

The Senate began debating the budget on Thursday of last week but agreed to continue the debate this week.

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 – pending in a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee.

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 – pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

H.3584 – Representative Harrell and others – A bill to raise the cigarette tax by 50 cents per pack – pending in the Senate Finance 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 – pending in the Senate Finance Committee.

H.3378 – Representative Cooper and others – A bill to provide for the terms and conditions of mandatory state agency furlough programs – House concurred in the Senate amendments.

H.3395 – Representative Harrell and others – A bill to conform the SC Code of Laws to reflect any constitutional change in the amount required to be held in the General Reserve Fund – pending in the Senate Finance Committee.

H.3396 – Representative Harrell and others – A Joint Resolution to increase the General Reserve Fund from three to five percent of general fund revenue of the latest completed fiscal year – pending in the Senate Judiciary 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 on the House Calendar.

H.3878 – Representative Rice and others – A Joint Resolution to establish a joint committee on the consolidation of state agencies to review the feasibility and costs savings related to the consolidation of certain state agencies – passed by the House and sent to the Senate.

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.9 – Senator McConnell and others – A bill to energy efficiency and renewable energy goals for state government – given a favorable report by the House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs 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 – pending on the House Contested Calendar.

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 – amended as requested by Clemson, passed by the House and returned to the Senate with amendments.

S.351 – Senator Grooms – A bill to restructure the organization of the SC State Ports Authority – pending in the House Judiciary Committee.

S.377 – Senator Scott and others – A bill to require public institutions of higher education to develop a credit card marketing and solicitation policy – given a favorable report by the Senate Education 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.

S.593 – Senator Shane Martin – A bill to allow persons who have a concealed weapons permit to carry a weapon on school property or college campuses if the weapon remains inside an attended or locked car – given majority favorable, minority unfavorable report by the Senate Judiciary 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 Wednesday, the Senate Education Committee gave approval to S.377. This bill by Senator John Scott requires public institutions of higher education to develop a credit card marketing and solicitation policy. The bill now go to the full Senate for consideration.

On Thursday, the House passed H.3878. This bill by Representative Rex Rice and others, establishes the Joint Study Committee on the Consolidation of State Agencies. The purpose of the committee would be to review the feasibility and costs savings related to the consolidation of certain state agencies. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

At the request of Clemson, several regulations for quarantines on certain plant pests that have been passed by the House and Senate Agriculture Committees in the last two weeks.