Entertainment Industry Financial Incentive
FINANCIAL INCENTIVE BILL PASSES FIRST SENATE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY
The 2007-08 Entertainment Industry Financial Incentive started its journey through the Florida Senate this morning as SB 96 was presented brilliantly by its sponsor, Senator Burt Saunders, in the Commerce Committee.
The committee passed the bill unanimously with the Governor’s funding request of $225 million in transferable tax credits over three years.
There will be two more stops for the bill before going for a vote on the
Senate floor - first will be the Finance and Tax committee, followed by the Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations committee.
Neither has set a date for the bill to be heard yet.
Though the bill passed with the Governor’s full request of funding, there will be pressure to lower it, due to a forecast of less funds available for budgeting due to a softening of the economy, as we’ve discussed in previous emails.
However, the Governor continues to see this as an important economic development incentive that creates spending in Florida and will fuel growth for an already-established industry that can quickly and positively contribute to Florida’s economy.
Please take the time to read the bill. You will find for the first time our incentive will work for commercials, music videos, Florida’s own independent filmmakers, digital media projects, and Florida’s film and digital media colleges and graduates, while attracting more of the larger, longer-running productions to support and build our Florida cast, crew and infrastructure.
Here is a link to SB 96:
http://www.flsenate .gov/data/ session/2007/ Senate/bills/ amendments_ Com/pdf/sb
0096am695982. pdf
Please consider sending a brief email thanking the members of the Commerce Committee for their support. Here are their emails:
Commerce Committee:
Chair: Senator Alex Diaz de la Portilla ® - portilla.alex. web@flsenate. gov
Vice Chair: Senator Charlie Justice (D) - justice.charlie. web@flsenate. gov
Senator Victor D. Crist ® - crist.victor. web@flsenate. gov
Senator Rudy Garcia ® - garcia.rudy. web@flsenate. gov
Senator Evelyn J. Lynn ® - lynn.evelyn. web@flsenate. gov
Senator Steve Oelrich ® - oelrich.steve. web@flsenate. gov
Senator Jeremy Ring (D) - ring.jeremy. web@flsenate. gov
Senator Burt L. Saunders ® - sauders.burt. web@flsenate. gov
Senator Gary Siplin (D) - siplin.gary. web@flsenate. gov
If you would like to send an email with your support or concerns about the
bill to the Finance and Tax Committee, here are those email addresses:
Finance and Tax Committee:
Chair: Senator Mike Haridopolos ® - haridopolos. mike.web@ flsenate. gov
Vice Chair: Senator Ted Deutch (D) - deutch.ted.web@ flsenate. gov
Senator Jeffrey H. “Jeff” Atwater ® - atwater.jeff. web@flsenate. gov
Senator Steven A. Geller (D) - geller.steven. web@flsenate. gov
Senator Ronda Storms ® - storms.ronda. web@flsenate. gov
Thank you for your continued support.
If you have any questions, please contact our office at (877) 352-3456.
Governor’s Office of Film & Entertainment
The Capitol, Suite 2001
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
(877) FLA-FILM (352-3456)