Clemson Advocates Update--February 6, 2017
Story Date: 2/6/2017

THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA
Last week, the Higher Education Subcommittee of the House Education Committee gave approval to H.3583, a bill that would allow students eligible for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship to elect to defer enrollment in an eligible four-year institution for two academic years after graduation, without declining the award.

BUDGET
The State Budget Process
The House Ways and Means Committee (where the appropriations bill originates) continued agency budget subcommittee hearings last week and will continue this process through early February. 

South Carolina State University, the University of South Carolina and MUSC made their budget presentations before the Higher Education Budget Subcommittee last week.

House Ways and Means Subcommittees that deliberate 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.

FYI
Please follow CU at the Capitol on Twitter.

The Clemson Advocates website and the Clemson University Governmental Affairs website are also constantly updated with news and information.