2019 Updates

August 8, 2019

Shirley Hinson provided the following Legislative Update:

FY 2019 RESULTS

Budget Requests: Recurring Funds request was $2.5 million and $2,659,523 was provided in the House budget and supported in the Senate.  The appropriation is contingent on a tuition cap. Nonrecurring funds request was $8 million and $7 million was provided in the House budget and supported in the Senate.

We received $607,631 for technology from the State Lottery.  It is important to remember funding is not guaranteed each year.  The General Assembly agreed to appropriate funding for technology needs at 4- and 2-year comprehensive colleges/universities and technical colleges when the State Lottery was approved for scholarships.  The College of Charleston is the recipient of the highest award.

Legislation:  While the College did not have specific legislation introduced in 2019, fifty-one higher education bills were introduced, two became law and the remainder will be carried over for consideration in 2020.  The following bills became law in 2019:

  1. S.530 Procurement Act-  sponsored by Senator Leatherman
  2. H.3398 Tucker Hipps Act - sunset date on original legislation was removed
  3. H.3639 Tuition changes for veterans and dependents

2019 was a good year for higher education.  Although numerous bills were introduced which could have a negative effect on colleges and universities, higher education liaisons worked together to defeat, amend or stall bills when necessary.  CofC staff and faculty provide support by responding quickly to requests for information to complete Fiscal Impact Statements on bills in committee without much notice.

For the first time in many years, we saw collaboration with the Governor and House and Senate leadership. Higher education committees in both bodies also had new leadership and the chairmen publicly expressed a desire to improve funding recognizing that tuition increases are a result of decreased state funding since 2008. 

2020 OUTLOOK

The outlook for 2020 should continue to be positive as long as state revenue continues to keep pace with projections.  Members of the General Assembly will stress the need for colleges and universities to control tuition increases, improve diversity campus wide, educate SC students and provide degree programs which prepare all students for careers after graduation.  A focus on education,  kindergarten through college, will continue and we could see additional legislation introduced including an effort to change the make-up of boards on the college level.  It's important to keep in mind that legislation usually takes several years to pass and there are many opportunities to offer amendments when needed.  All of the 170 members in the house and senate will be up for re-election in 2020.  Legislators will make efforts to stay clear of controversy if order to win elections.  The sale of Santee Cooper will be discussed at length in both bodies but a final decision will be difficult for them due to many complicated pieces to the puzzle. Sine Die should happen close to the end of May allowing legislators to campaign in districts back home.

May 24, 2019

Shirley Hinson provided the following Legislative Update:   

Members of the SC House and Senate approved the Budget Conference Report on May 21, 2019 before adjourning for the year.  Few vetoes are expected from Governor McMaster and they will be considered when the General Assembly convenes in January 2020.

It was a good year for higher education with the College receiving recurring funding as well as support for facility renovations.  See below:

Recurring State Appropriation                      $ 2,659,523

Renovations for Stern Student Center           7,000,000

Lottery Technology Funding                                600,000 (Estimated)

The Ways and Means Committee Chairman, Representative Murrell Smith, asked all state colleges and universities to hold any tuition increase to 1%.  In good faith, higher education agreed to his terms since it could mean additional recurring funding in the future.  

State employees at colleges and universities earning less than $100,000 will receive a 2% salary increase.  An additional one-time bonus of $600 will be paid to state employees earning $70,000 or less.  The state only covers increases for state-funded FTEs at the College. 

Travel subsistence was changed through a proviso that increases the in-state daily meal allowance to $35 and out-of-state daily meal allowance to $50.

Several higher education bills stalled in the House or Senate but they can move forward next year.  State scholarships were fully funded.

April 12, 2019

Shirley Hinson provided the following Legislative Update:   

  • S.35 – Reinforcing College Education and America’s Constitutional Heritage Act – Provost McGee explained measures needed by the College to implement the Bill as currently drafted which requires three credit hours.
  • H.3639 – In-State Tuition for Military Personnel and Dependents (Signed into Law) ACT No. 10
  • S.298 – Higher Education Opportunity Act – Senator Sheheen’s bill is on the Senate calendar.
  • H.3099 – Forming Open and Robust University Minds – provides for open forums across campus
  • Legislative Reception has been scheduled for February 11, 2020.

January 24, 2019

Shirley Hinson provided the following Legislative Update:   

  • Legislators returned to Columbia on January 8 and Ways and Means subcommittees held budget meetings the same day.
  • Representative Murrell Smith was elected Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, replacing Brian White.
  • Representative Gary Simrill will serve as Chair of the Higher Education Subcommittee. 
  • Board Chair David Hay sent the legislators a letter in December regarding the Board’s decision to elect Dr. Andrew Hsu as the new president. 
  • Over 700 bills were pre-filed in the House and Senate and many of them are directed to education.
  • Bills of interest: 
    • S.33 Campus-Free Expression Act
    • S.35 Study of the Constitution
    • S.7 Tort claims Act Increases limits from a loss to one person to $1 million

Board members discussed pros and cons regarding the idea of reinstating the annual Legislative Reception.  President Osborne noted that he will look at the possibility of reinstating it next year.  Foundation funds pay a portion of the cost.