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He said the commission no longer does what it was intended to do: watch over South Carolina's colleges and universities to make sure the programs and services offered are unique and vibrant.
Merrill, a Daniel Island Republican, has filed a bill that would abolish the commission and turn over its responsibilities to individual colleges and universities and state Treasurer Converse Chellis.
The move would save about $2.1 million annually, which could be used to directly benefit students in classrooms, Merrill said.
But commission chairman Kenneth Wingate said the proposal "misunderstands the basic function" of the commission.
The commission is a coordinating group, not a regulatory body, he said. And it has many functions that can't be easily dismantled and disseminated, such as managing lottery scholarships.
The commission actually saves the state money, he said, because it can examine cost savings systemwide.
And it saves students and families money as well, he said, by developing "articulation agreements" between institutions, which limit wasted coursework for transfer students.
The commission also serves a "policing function," he said. "We make sure schools are licensed in South Carolina. That's especially important for online programs."
The commission was created by the legislature to coordinate higher education services throughout the state and to ensure colleges and universities provide affordable and accessible education that is high quality and promotes economic development.
Merrill said he supports delegating the authority to the individual institutions to create a system based more on the free market. He pre-filed his bill in December, and it has been referred to the House Education and Public Works Committee.
Rep. Chip Limehouse, a Charleston Republican who heads budget talks for higher education, said he will consider Merrill's idea but is hesitant because of the role the commission serves in distributing state funds to the institutions.
"We're always looking for any opportunity to cut government and streamline it," Limehouse said. "And in the budget times we find ourselves, this is something we've got to talk about."
Sen. Larry Martin, a Pickens Republican, said that at first blush he would be opposed to the legislation because he believes the commission serves a valid purpose.
The commission helps coordinate activities at the colleges and universities and alerts the legislature to trends and issues within the higher education community.
"I would be disappointed to see us abandon that effort, even if it's not as successful as some would like to see it," Martin said. "If they're not doing what they're supposed to do, maybe we need to revisit the laws that created it."
