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

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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

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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.