THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA S.391 (In-State Tuition for Non-Resident Veterans) has been passed by the House and Senate and is now enrolled for ratification. This legislation will enable South Carolina colleges and universities to be in compliance with the Federal Veterans Choice Act of 2014.
The State Budget Process The Senate begins debate on the state budget today. As a reminder, the Senate Finance version of the budget currently contains the following specifically for Clemson University:
Clemson E&G - $1.7 million in recurring funding for Clemson's partnership with the Greenwood Genetic Center (House funded $1.5 million) - $750,000 in recurring funding for the Deep Orange project at CU-ICAR (House funded $750,000) - $3.47 million in nonrecurring funding for Critical Maintenance Needs (House funded $0)
Clemson PSA - $500,000 in recurring funding for Agribusiness and Emerging Farmers (House funded $500,000) - $750,000 in recurring funding for Vegetable and Fruit Production (House funded $500,000) - $500,000 in recurring funding for 4-H Youth Leadership Programs (House funded $500,000) - $1.5 million in nonrecurring funding for Ag & Natural Resources Field Facilities (House funded $0)
The Committee also adopted a Bond Bill for capital projects and funded the following projects specific to Clemson:
- $16.85 million in one-time funding for a new Business and Behavioral Sciences Building (House funded $7 million) - $3.15 million in one-time funding for the Garrison Arena Education and Instruction Facility Also included in the Senate Finance version of the budget is a provision for the state to cover an increase in the cost of health insurance for state employees
Detailed information on Clemson's 2015 state legislative and budget priorities for FY 2015-16 may be found at these links:
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.
CLEMSON ON CAPITOL HILL Senate Judiciary Committee Leadership Introduces PATENT Act Last week, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Mike Lee (R-UT), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced the PATENT Act. The legislation is the Senate patent litigation reform counterpart to H.R. 9, the Innovation Act, which has been of significant concern to many higher education associations and universities.
In response to the legislation, several higher education associations released a statement noting that while we continue to review the legislation and will seek improvements, we are encouraged that in contrast to the House legislation, the PATENT Act creates a non-presumptive fee-shifting standard and a measured recovery of fees provision (joinder).
House Energy & Commerce Committee Leadership Introduces New Discussion Draft of 21st Century Cures Act On April 29th, House Energy & Commerce Committee leadership released a new discussion draft of their legislation, the 21st Century Cures Act, which aims to bolster biomedical research and speed disease cures and treatments to patients through a variety of means. Among other provisions, the discussion draft would increase funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
More information about the 21st Century Cures initiative is available on the House Energy and Commerce Committee's website here.
The Role of Consumer Information in College Choice The Senate Committee on Health, Education, and Pensions (HELP) will hold a hearing on the role of consumer information in college choice this Wednesday (5/6). As the Committee begins preparation to take up reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA), this will be the first in a series of hearings focused on accreditation reform, institutional accountability through risk-sharing, and postsecondary data transparency and consumer information. The Committee's white papers on each of these issues can be found here.
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