THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA The first session of the 121st General Assembly convened on Tuesday, January 10 with a Tiger Paw flag flying high atop the State House dome! This is the first year of a two year session which means those bills introduced during this legislative session will carry over until next year as well. Each legislative session is held from the second Tuesday in January until the second Thursday in May.
The House of Representatives held their organizational session December 6-7. During that session, Rep. Jay Lucas (R-Darlington) was re-elected Speaker of the House. The House also received committee assignments, and met as standing committees to elect officers.
Three new committee members were named to the House Ways and Means Committee. Those new members include Representative Nathan Ballentine (R-Lexington), Representative Kirkman Finlay (R-Richland) and Representative Mike Sottile (R-Charleston)
The House pre-filed legislation on December 15.
The Senate organized on December 6. Four new committee members were appointed to the Senate Finance Committee. Those new members include Senator Karl Allen (D-Greenville), Senator Sean Bennett (R-Dorchester), Senator Tom Corbin (Clemson '87) (R-Greenville) and Senator Greg Gregory (R-Lancaster).
The Senate pre-filed legislation on December 13.
Governor Nikki Haley (Clemson '94) has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump as Ambassador to the United Nations. Her Senate confirmation hearing is scheduled for January 18. It is expected that, once confirmed, Governor Haley will resign as Governor and Lt. Governor Henry McMaster will be sworn in as Governor. The succession plan for the naming of a new Lt. Governor is currently before the South Carolina Supreme Court for clarification.
BUDGET Governor Haley Releases FY 2017-18 Executive Budget Proposal On Tuesday, January 10, Governor Nikki Haley (Clemson '94) released her Executive Budget proposal for 2017-18.
The State Budget Process The House Ways and Means Committee (where the appropriations bill originates) began agency budget subcommittee hearings this week and will continue this process through January. This week, the Subcommittee heard budget presentations from the Commission on Higher Education, Frances Marion University, Lander University and Winthrop University.
Clemson PSA's budget hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, January 18 before the Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee. President Clements, along with Dr. George Askew (Vice President for PSA) will be presenting before the Subcommittee.
President Jim Clements is scheduled to give Clemson's Education and General (E&G) budget presentation to the Ways and Means Higher Education Subcommittee on Tuesday, January 24.
House Ways and Means Subcommittees that will hear Clemson's budget requests
Higher Education Subcommittee: Chairman Brian White (serving as Interim Chair) (R-Anderson) Representative Gilda Cobb-Hunter (D-Orangeburg) Representative Mike Sottile (R-Charleston) Staff: Kara Brurok
Economic Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee: Representative Gary Simrill, Chairman (R-York) Representative Chip Huggins (R-Lexington Representative Leon Stavrinakis (D-Charleston) Staff: AJ Newton
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.
The university also has auxiliary operations, such as athletics, student housing and dining services, which receive no state funding and must generate all of their own revenue.
Detailed information on Clemson's 2017 state legislative and budget priorities for FY 2017-18 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.
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