Help Bring Back Work To Florida!
Please Help Bring the Work Back to Florida. Use the links below to make your voice heard and then forward this to other industry professionals.
Shauna Bartel
The C*A*S*T Studio
www.ShaunaBartel.com
Florida Legislators Announce
The Entertainment Industry Economic Development Act
Legislative approval means more employment opportunities
This past week Representative Steve Precourt (R-Winter Garden) and Senator Mike Haridopolos (R-Melbourne) announced the introduction of the Entertainment Industry Economic Development Act. If this legislation is approved by the Florida House of Representatives and Senate, it will increase film production and available jobs for the entertainment community.
The legislation is a top priority for the upcoming legislative session and will be a key component to the state's economic diversification and recovery. The Entertainment Industry Economic Development Act (House Bill 697 - SEE COPY AT END OF EMAIL) creates a consistent and competitive film and digital media tax credit capable of attracting and growing the entertainment industry.
CALL TO ACTION
We support House Bill 697, The Entertainment Industry Economic Development Act. At this critical stage, we are urging you to reach out to your legislators individually; let them know what the Florida film, TV & digital media industry means to you, your family, your friends, your business and your community. If you cannot get an appointment with your legislator, meet with their key legislative aide, or send them a fax or a letter (not an e-mail). Feel free to use the documents linked below if you require more information.
To see the one page talking points that you can use in your communications, click here.
To find contact information for your legislative representatives:
Click www.myfloridahouse.gov for the House of Representatives, click tab for "Find your representative" and enter your zip code.
Click www.flsenate.gov/Welcome/index.cfm?CFID=184698182&CFTOKEN=40836050 for the Senate, scroll down to the right hand column for "find your representative" and enter your zip code.
Click www.filmflorida.org/resources to view a master contact list for all state legislators.
Here is a quick summary of highlights that you can include in your communications:
· This legislation allows Florida to retain and create more high wage jobs by attracting production spending immediately, while avoiding any fiscal hit in the upcoming budget.
· The bill will generate substantial amounts of new revenue for the State by creating thousands of jobs for Floridians and boosting a broad and diverse spectrum of ancillary businesses.
· Money comes in before money is spent, making this a true performance based tax credit - a certified production company only receives tax credits after all its Florida expenditures have been verified.
Please forward this to friends in the entertainment industry.
Entertainment Industry Economic Development Bill (HB 697) Sponsored by State Representative Steve Precourt (R-41) State Senator Mike Haridopolos (R-26) Florida incrementally built a successful film incentive program to reverse a trend of loss, only to suffer a significant setback through the reduction of funding from $25M to $5M to $10M. This bill creates a film and digital media tax credit that has a proven record of attracting and growing the industry in New York, New Mexico, Louisiana, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Illinois. A certified production company only receives the credit AFTER all its Florida expenditures have been verified. This is a true performance-based tax credit, in which all the investment occurs before a credit is issued. Florida is assured all the money remains in the state as only a Florida taxpayer can use the credit. With the conversion from cash rebate to tax credit the unpredictability created by the annual appropriation process is removed. Florida is often bypassed for TV series and pilots because the appropriation process creates uncertainty as to whether an incentive will be available in the future. The proposal allows Florida to retain and create more high wage jobs by attracting production spending immediately, while avoiding any fiscal hit in the upcoming budget. Although the film office can begin issuing credits upon adoption of the program, credits cannot be claimed until tax returns for 2012 or later, ensuring not $1 of credits will be claimed or issued in this upcoming budget. This will generate substantial amounts of new tax revenue, create thousands of jobs and boost ancillary businesses. The bill institutes an annual cap on total credits - the most credits that can be issued in a given year are $75M. If more credits are applied for in a given year, those not receiving a credit will have their applications rolled forward to the next year credits are available. The tax credit levels the economic playing field and allows Florida to take advantage of its existing talent pool and continue to build digital media entertainment production clusters. This bill retains several key features of the current incentive program: Only Florida expenditures such as hiring local residents and expenditures associated with goods and services provided by Florida-based companies qualify for the credit; The bill increases the base incentive amount from the current 15% to 20% for major film and television projects and digital media productions. An additional 5% remains available to entice productions to film in our state during the Hurricane season; The enhancement for family friendly projects is increased from 2% to 5%; Encourage the production of commercials, music videos and independent films, all critical to diversifying and growing our economy with high-paying jobs.
Shauna Bartel
The C*A*S*T Studio
www.ShaunaBartel.com
Florida Legislators Announce
The Entertainment Industry Economic Development Act
Legislative approval means more employment opportunities
This past week Representative Steve Precourt (R-Winter Garden) and Senator Mike Haridopolos (R-Melbourne) announced the introduction of the Entertainment Industry Economic Development Act. If this legislation is approved by the Florida House of Representatives and Senate, it will increase film production and available jobs for the entertainment community.
The legislation is a top priority for the upcoming legislative session and will be a key component to the state's economic diversification and recovery. The Entertainment Industry Economic Development Act (House Bill 697 - SEE COPY AT END OF EMAIL) creates a consistent and competitive film and digital media tax credit capable of attracting and growing the entertainment industry.
CALL TO ACTION
We support House Bill 697, The Entertainment Industry Economic Development Act. At this critical stage, we are urging you to reach out to your legislators individually; let them know what the Florida film, TV & digital media industry means to you, your family, your friends, your business and your community. If you cannot get an appointment with your legislator, meet with their key legislative aide, or send them a fax or a letter (not an e-mail). Feel free to use the documents linked below if you require more information.
To see the one page talking points that you can use in your communications, click here.
To find contact information for your legislative representatives:
Click www.myfloridahouse.gov for the House of Representatives, click tab for "Find your representative" and enter your zip code.
Click www.flsenate.gov/Welcome/index.cfm?CFID=184698182&CFTOKEN=40836050 for the Senate, scroll down to the right hand column for "find your representative" and enter your zip code.
Click www.filmflorida.org/resources to view a master contact list for all state legislators.
Here is a quick summary of highlights that you can include in your communications:
· This legislation allows Florida to retain and create more high wage jobs by attracting production spending immediately, while avoiding any fiscal hit in the upcoming budget.
· The bill will generate substantial amounts of new revenue for the State by creating thousands of jobs for Floridians and boosting a broad and diverse spectrum of ancillary businesses.
· Money comes in before money is spent, making this a true performance based tax credit - a certified production company only receives tax credits after all its Florida expenditures have been verified.
Please forward this to friends in the entertainment industry.
Entertainment Industry Economic Development Bill (HB 697) Sponsored by State Representative Steve Precourt (R-41) State Senator Mike Haridopolos (R-26) Florida incrementally built a successful film incentive program to reverse a trend of loss, only to suffer a significant setback through the reduction of funding from $25M to $5M to $10M. This bill creates a film and digital media tax credit that has a proven record of attracting and growing the industry in New York, New Mexico, Louisiana, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Illinois. A certified production company only receives the credit AFTER all its Florida expenditures have been verified. This is a true performance-based tax credit, in which all the investment occurs before a credit is issued. Florida is assured all the money remains in the state as only a Florida taxpayer can use the credit. With the conversion from cash rebate to tax credit the unpredictability created by the annual appropriation process is removed. Florida is often bypassed for TV series and pilots because the appropriation process creates uncertainty as to whether an incentive will be available in the future. The proposal allows Florida to retain and create more high wage jobs by attracting production spending immediately, while avoiding any fiscal hit in the upcoming budget. Although the film office can begin issuing credits upon adoption of the program, credits cannot be claimed until tax returns for 2012 or later, ensuring not $1 of credits will be claimed or issued in this upcoming budget. This will generate substantial amounts of new tax revenue, create thousands of jobs and boost ancillary businesses. The bill institutes an annual cap on total credits - the most credits that can be issued in a given year are $75M. If more credits are applied for in a given year, those not receiving a credit will have their applications rolled forward to the next year credits are available. The tax credit levels the economic playing field and allows Florida to take advantage of its existing talent pool and continue to build digital media entertainment production clusters. This bill retains several key features of the current incentive program: Only Florida expenditures such as hiring local residents and expenditures associated with goods and services provided by Florida-based companies qualify for the credit; The bill increases the base incentive amount from the current 15% to 20% for major film and television projects and digital media productions. An additional 5% remains available to entice productions to film in our state during the Hurricane season; The enhancement for family friendly projects is increased from 2% to 5%; Encourage the production of commercials, music videos and independent films, all critical to diversifying and growing our economy with high-paying jobs.
posted by Nancy McBride at
6:46 AM
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