FILM ADVISORY COMMISSION
House Bill 6066
Sponsor: Rep. Jason Allen
Committee: Commerce
Complete to 5-17-02
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 6066 AS INTRODUCED 5-9-02
The bill would amend the History, Arts, and Libraries Act to create a Michigan Film Advisory Commission. The commission membership would include 15 members appointed by the governor and the state film commissioner, who would serve as an ex officio nonvoting member. The bill also would establish the Michigan Film Office in the Department of History, Arts, and Libraries, and authorize the director of the department to appoint an individual to serve as the film commissioner, who would be the head of the film office.
Role of the Commission. The commission would be authorized to do the following.
· Advise the governor, department, film office, and legislature on how to promote and market Michigan's locations, crews, facilities, technical production facilities, and other services used by film, television, and related industries.
· Encourage community and Michigan film and television production industry participation in, and coordination with, state efforts to attract film, television, and related production to the state.
· Assist the office of film in promoting, encouraging, and facilitating film, television, and related production in the state.
· Develop strategies and methods to attract film, television, and related business.
· Under direction of the film office, provide assistance to film, television, and related personnel who use Michigan as a business location.
· Sponsor and support official functions for film, television, and related industries.
· Assist in the establishment of film and television ventures and other related matters the film office and department consider appropriate.
Membership of the Commission. The governor would appoint five members associated with broad areas of film and motion picture making, production of television programs and commercials, and related industries in the state; five members representing theater owners, at least three of whom would represent theaters with 10 screens or more or that seat 1,000 or more individuals; two members from film, television, or related industry unions; and three members from the public at large and not active in the industry. The term of office would be three years (and until the appointment and qualification of a successor). The state's film commissioner would serve as an ex officio nonvoting member. The governor would appoint one of the members as the chairperson for a one-year term (and could reappoint that person for an
additional one-year term). Members would serve without compensation but could receive reimbursements for actual and necessary expenses while attending meetings or performing other authorized official business (subject to appropriations).
Commission operations. The commission would be required to meet at least three times per year, including a meeting held each May. The commission would also meet at the call of the chairperson. The commission would be subject to the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act. However, a writing prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by the commission when performing business of the commission could be kept confidential for up to six months after a request to inspect, obtain, or copy it was received if, in the judgment of the commission chairperson, disclosure of the record would compromise or otherwise undermine the ability of Michigan industry to compete in the promotion and marketing of Michigan's locations, crews, facilities, and technical production and other services. The bill also would specify that the commission could not use for personal gain information obtained while performing commission business. A commission member would also be prohibited from disclosing confidential information obtained while conducting commission business, except as necessary to perform commission business.
Delegation of Department Duties. The bill would also allow the Department of History, Arts, and Libraries to enter into an agreement with one or more other persons, including a federal agency, to carry out the powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities of the department and would further allow the department director to delegate his or her authority to execute such an agreement to another officer or employee of the department.
MCL 399.702 et al.
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.