THIS WEEK IN SOUTH CAROLINA Last week, the Higher Education Subcommittee of the Senate Education Committee gave approval to S.262 (Higher Ed Textbook Policy), a bill that would help minimize college textbook costs.
The House Ways and Means Committee approved H.3516 (Motor Vehicle User Fee) which would raise the gas tax by ten cents per gallon and create a dedicated source of funding for repairs to the state's roads and transportation infrastructure. The full House of Representative is expected to vote on the measure this week.
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. The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (CHE) returned to make an additional presentation to the Higher Education Budget Subcommittee last week. The subcommittee has completed budget hearings and provisos. It is expected that the full House Ways and Means Committee will deliberate the budget the week of February 20.
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.
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