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FILM AND ENTERTAINMENT LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Film Florida is actively engaged in helping craft 2009 legislation that will impact our state's film incentives. We encourage you to visit our website often for the latest news on the incentive process.

Latest updates:

Legislative Update for 4/1/2009
Appropriations

Senate Transportation and Economic Development (TED) Appropriations Committee today passed its appropriations bill (SB 7060). There were no changes to their earlier proposed budget items for the Office of Film and Entertainment operating expenses ($753,296) and the entertainment incentive ($5 million).

Chairman Fasano noted that for Senate TED to remain within their $9.8 billion dollar budget seventy four filled (not vacant) positions were eliminated in this bill. The Office of Tourism Trade and Economic Development (OTTED) retained all 21 of their positions which includes the four positions associated with the Office of Film and Entertainment. I'm grateful that this committee understands how important it is to Florida that we continue to invest in economic development.

There were seven amendments filed for SB 7060 which included an amendment filed by Senator Fasano that would have required the entire $5 million budget item for the entertainment incentive to be used in the digital media queue. I met with the Senator and at the conclusion of our discussion he told me he would withdraw the amendment. He did.

The House Transportation and Economic Development (TED) Appropriations Committee tomorrow will finalize their Chairman's recommendations to send to the Full Appropriations Council on Education and Economic Development for vote next Tuesday afternoon - specific time TBD. At this time I am not aware of any changes to their earlier proposed budget items for the Office of Film and Entertainment operating expenses ($453,296) and the entertainment incentive ($12 million). I will keep abreast of this.

Bills

SB 350 remains in Senate Finance and Tax. It is not aniticipated that it will be taken up next week. There appears to be no movement for HB 47 (Precourt) or HB 43 (Ambler) at this time. The Senate Select Committee continues to work on their package which includes an entertainment industry tax credit per SB350.

The legislature will clear out around noon next Wednesday and will return on the following Monday, April 13th.

There are still four more weeks of session left……
 

http://www.flsenate.gov/data/committees/Senate/meeting_packets/SFE.pdf.

 

 

On March 4, the Senate Select Committee for Florida's Economy discussed in favor of including a film/entertainment tax credit in an economic stimulus package. There were five issues, including our issue, that were discussed. To see the complete committee meeting packet including which includes summaries of the issues as well as draft bill language go to:

• Governor Charlie Crist unveiled his 2009-2010 budget on February 20, 2009. Among the Governor's listed priorties in the highlights of his budget is the Florida Film Industry, utilizing figures derived from the Haas Study of the Florida Film and Entertainment Industry.  The Governor's budget proposes an appropriation of $10 Million.  This does not indicate an unwillingness of the Governor to support a tax credit.  Film Florida is fully in support of a HB47/SB350, calling for a tax credit based film and entertainment incentive.  We will continue to work with leadership to make this position clear. To review the highlights from the Governor's budget, visit www.thepeoplesbudget.state.fl.us/Highlights/economy/economy_home.aspx
• The State of California on Thursday, February 19, facing a $42 Billion state budget shortfall, passed a five year $500 Million Film Incentive as part of an economic stimulus package. Dubbed the "Ugly Betty" incentive, it is designed to convince film and television productions outside of California to return to the state. With Michigan, another state facing great economic upheaval, looking to maintain or enhance their already aggressive incentive, this once again shows how vital and necessary our industry is to Florida's economy and how we simply must keep pressing our legislators to act boldly and quickly.  To read more about this development, visit www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fi-filmtaxcredits20-2009feb20,0,3183881.story .
• Please review the Executive Summary for the Haas Study of the Florida Film and Entertainment Industry. It was to be released in conjunction with last week's cancelled roundtable with the Governor. We will be distributing it more widely and "officially" over the next week. The fiscal impact numbers look very good and should help provide a more complete picture that can augment the recent impact conference scoring of HB43/SB312 and HB47/SB350. Dr. Rick Harper, the lead researcher, has agreed to provide additional clarification or testimony as needed. The full study is available on our website at: http://www.filminflorida.com/ifi/ea.asp.

• For a current list of Florida's Governor's Office and Legislators, including their contact Information, click here.  We still encourage all key industry representatives to meet with their Legislators. Our focus must be on educating leaders on the benefits that the Film, Entertainment and Digital Media have on Florida's economy (jobs and economic impact - refer to the Industry Fact Sheets that were distributed) Industry leaders should reinforce the fact that we are one of the few industries who have the ability to become part of the solution to revitalize Floida's economy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Previous Updates

The House Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations Committee and Senate Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations Committee announced their budget recommendations for the Governor’s Office of Film & Entertainment this week.