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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the moving image industry incentive program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 485.022(e), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(e) The office is not required to act on any grant |
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application and may deny an application because of inappropriate |
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content [or content that portrays Texas or Texans in a negative
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fashion], as determined by the office, in a moving image |
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project. In determining whether to act on or deny a grant |
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application, the office shall consider general standards of decency |
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and respect for the diverse beliefs and values of the citizens of |
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Texas. |
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SECTION 2. Section 485.023, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 485.023. QUALIFICATION. To qualify for a grant under |
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this subchapter: |
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(1) a production company must have spent a minimum of: |
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(A) $250,000 in in-state spending for a film or |
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television program; or |
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(B) $100,000 in in-state spending for a |
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commercial or series of commercials, an educational or |
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instructional video or series of educational or instructional |
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videos, or a digital interactive media production; |
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(2) at least 50 [70] percent of the production crew, |
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actors, and extras for a moving image project must be Texas |
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residents unless the office determines and certifies in writing |
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that a sufficient number of qualified crew, actors, and extras are |
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not available to the company at the time principal photography |
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begins; |
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(3) at least 50 [60] percent of the moving image |
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project must be filmed in Texas; and |
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(4) a production company must submit to the office an |
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expended budget, in a format prescribed by the office, that |
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reflects all in-state spending and includes all receipts, invoices, |
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pay orders, and other documentation considered necessary by the |
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office to accurately determine the amount of a production company's |
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in-state spending that has occurred. |
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SECTION 3. Section 485.025, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 485.025. ADDITIONAL GRANT FOR UNDERUTILIZED AND |
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ECONOMICALLY DISTRESSED AREAS. In addition to the grant calculated |
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under Section 485.024, a production company that spends at least 25 |
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percent of a moving image project's filming days in an |
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underutilized and economically distressed area is eligible for an |
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additional grant in an amount equal to 5 [2.5] percent of the total |
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amount of the production company's in-state spending for the moving |
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image project. |
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SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a moving image project for which an application is submitted under |
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Section 485.022(b)(2), Government Code, on or after the effective |
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date of this Act. A moving image project for which an application is |
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submitted before the effective date of this Act is governed by the |
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law in effect on the date the application was submitted, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |