BUDGET
On Tuesday, Governor Sanford delivered 49 vetoes in his message to the Speaker of the House. On Wednesday, the House overrode all vetoes that impacted Clemson. Also on Wednesday, the Senate overrode the two vetoes on state appropriations and stimulus funds. On Thursday, the Senate considered the balance of the vetoes and overrode those that impacted Clemson. The bill now becomes law and the Governor has five days to act on the application for stimulus funds.
The budget appropriates the almost $350 million in Federal Stimulus funds. Of these funds, approximately $185 million was spent on K-12 education and $99.9 million on higher education which included $14.7 million for Clemson E&G. $63 million was spent on other government services which included $2.5 million for Clemson PSA.
The budget contains an amendment to the Appropriations Bill that directs the Governor and the Superintendent of Education to “take all action necessary and required” to secure Federal Stimulus funds. Governor Sanford has filed a federal lawsuit against the General Assembly arguing the constitutionality of this provision.
Clemson’s E&G base remained at $86 million which includes the additional 2% cut approved by the Budget and Control Board earlier in April.
The budget for Clemson PSA proposes a $2,433,411 base reduction. The Clemson PSA base in the bill is $38.2 million.
The budget includes fee increases in the Regulatory Services Division of Clemson PSA, which will allow vital services to farmers to continue. Clemson PSA’s Meat Inspection cost recovery money and proviso language was also included.
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 – passed by the House and Senate and enrolled for ratification.
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 – on the Senate Contested Calendar.
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 – recalled and sent to the Senate Education Committee.
H.3378 – Representative Cooper and others – A bill to provide for the terms and conditions of mandatory state agency furlough programs – signed into law by the Governor on May6, 2009.
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 – recommitted to the House Ways and Means Committee.
H.3651 – Representative Duncan and others – A bill to limit the authority of counties and municipalities to restrict or regulate certain forestry activities – passed by the House and Senate and enrolled for ratification.
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 – pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
H.3889 – Representative Jimmy Bales – A bill to change the requirement for Coggins Testing and to require testing for Strangles in horses – recommitted to the House Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee.
H.4005 – Representative Sellers and others – A bill to prohibiting individuals seeking election to membership on the governing board of an institution of higher education filled by a vote of the General Assembly to make contributions to a candidate for the General Assembly or sponsor a fundraiser for a candidate from the time the individual files a notice of intention to seek membership to the time the office is filled – 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 – recommitted to 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 – in a Conference 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.116 – Senators Knotts and McConnell – A bill relating to definitions in the Procurement Code to provide for preferences to end products from South Carolina – passed by the House and Senate and enrolled for ratification.
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 – included an amendment requested by Clemson - became law without the Governor’s signature on May 20, 2009.
S.351 – Senator Grooms – A bill to restructure the organization of the SC State Ports Authority – sent to a conference committee, conference report adopted and enrolled for ratification by the House.
S.377 – Senator Scott and others – A bill to require public institutions of higher education to develop a credit card marketing and solicitation policy – passed by the Senate and referred to the House Education and Public Works 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.453 – Senators Verdin and Ford – A bill to provide that local governments ordinances concerning the care and handling of livestock and poultry are superseded and preempted by laws enacted by the SC General Assembly. It also prevents local governments from imposing any new storm water fees on agricultural, forest, or undeveloped land – passed by the House and Senate and enrolled for ratification.
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 – pending on the Senate Contested Calendar.
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 – adopted by the House and Senate.
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 – returned to the Senate with amendments, the Senate non-concurred in the House amendments, the House receded from the amendment.
S.711 – Senator Danny Verdin – a Joint Resolution to allow Clemson Regulatory Services Division to quarantine counties for Citrus Greening Disease – signed into law by the Governor on May 19, 2009.
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
The House adjourned at 5:00 pm on Thursday in accordance the Sine Die Resolution. The Senate continued to work on vetoes late into the evening before adjourning. The House and Senate will return in statewide session on June 16th as allowed in H.4000, the Sine Die Resolution. Under the terms of the Resolution, the General Assembly can ratify Acts, consider vetoes, conference reports, local legislation and certain resolutions. Because it is the first year of a two year session, bills that did not pass this year are carried over to next year retaining their current status upon adjournment.
On Tuesday Governor Sanford signed in to law S.711 which is a Joint Resolution to allow Clemson’s Regulatory Services Division to quarantine citrus plants shipments in Charleston County because of the discovery of Citrus Greening disease. This legislation was requested by Clemson.
The House and Senate passed S.351 – SC Ports Authority Restructuring bill. This bill deals primarily with structure and authority of the governing board of the Authority. It includes qualifications of the members of the board and a review of the performance of the executive director of the Authority. The bill now goes back to the Governor for his consideration.
On Thursday, the Senate did not concur with the House amendments to S.593. This bill would allow persons authorized to carry a concealed weapon to have a weapon in an attended or locked vehicle if the weapon is secured in a closed glove compartment, console or trunk on college campuses. The bill also applies to K-12 public schools. The Senate sent the bill back to the House and the House receded in its amendment. The bill was then sent back to the Senate and enrolled for ratification. The bill now goes to the Governor for his consideration.
The General Assembly passed legislation regulating the Pay Day Lending Industry but did not pass an increase in the cigarette tax before they adjourned on Thursday. | 
