Bill Text: TX HB2729 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to the moving image industry incentive program.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-16 - Referred to Economic & Small Business Development [HB2729 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HB2729-Introduced.html
  84R11785 AAF-F
 
  By: Metcalf H.B. No. 2729
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the moving image industry incentive program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 485.022(e), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (e)  The office is not required to act on any grant
  application and may deny an application because of inappropriate
  content [or content that portrays Texas or Texans in a negative
  fashion], as determined by the office, in a moving image
  project.  In determining whether to act on or deny a grant
  application, the office shall consider general standards of decency
  and respect for the diverse beliefs and values of the citizens of
  Texas.
         SECTION 2.  Section 485.023, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 485.023.  QUALIFICATION. To qualify for a grant under
  this subchapter:
               (1)  a production company must have spent a minimum of:
                     (A)  $250,000 in in-state spending for a film or
  television program; or
                     (B)  $100,000 in in-state spending for a
  commercial or series of commercials, an educational or
  instructional video or series of educational or instructional
  videos, or a digital interactive media production;
               (2)  at least 50 [70] percent of the production crew,
  actors, and extras for a moving image project must be Texas
  residents unless the office determines and certifies in writing
  that a sufficient number of qualified crew, actors, and extras are
  not available to the company at the time principal photography
  begins;
               (3)  at least 50 [60] percent of the moving image
  project must be filmed in Texas; and
               (4)  a production company must submit to the office an
  expended budget, in a format prescribed by the office, that
  reflects all in-state spending and includes all receipts, invoices,
  pay orders, and other documentation considered necessary by the
  office to accurately determine the amount of a production company's
  in-state spending that has occurred.
         SECTION 3.  Section 485.025, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 485.025.  ADDITIONAL GRANT FOR UNDERUTILIZED AND
  ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED AREAS. In addition to the grant calculated
  under Section 485.024, a production company that spends at least 25
  percent of a moving image project's filming days in an
  underutilized and economically distressed area is eligible for an
  additional grant in an amount equal to 5 [2.5] percent of the total
  amount of the production company's in-state spending for the moving
  image project.
         SECTION 4.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  a moving image project for which an application is submitted under
  Section 485.022(b)(2), Government Code, on or after the effective
  date of this Act. A moving image project for which an application is
  submitted before the effective date of this Act is governed by the
  law in effect on the date the application was submitted, and the
  former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
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