END FILM CREDIT PROGRAM

House Bill 4122 as introduced

Sponsor:  Rep. Dan Lauwers

Committee:  Tax Policy

Complete to 2-24-15

SUMMARY:

House Bill 4122 would amend Section 29h of the Michigan Strategic Fund act to add language that would stop the Michigan Film Office from operating the film and digital media production assistance ("film credit") program, as well as prevent it from providing funding for direct production expenditures, Michigan personnel expenditures, crew personnel expenditures, or qualified personnel expenditures, as defined in the section.  The program would end after October 1, 2015, or the end of this fiscal year.

MCL 125.2029h

FISCAL IMPACT:

Funding for the film and digital media production assistance program has been appropriated out of the General Fund over the last few years.  $50 million was appropriated for the current fiscal year, which was also the amount of the previous year’s appropriation.  The executive budget recommendation for Fiscal Year 2015-16 again seeks to appropriate $50 million.  This bill would seemingly prevent that appropriation from having any meaning, since the Michigan film office would be prevented by statute from operating the program, leaving that $50 million un-appropriated for FY16.

                                                                             Legislative/ Fiscal Analyst:   Adam Desrosiers

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.