SB-0569, As Passed Senate, November 3, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUBSTITUTE FOR

 

SENATE BILL NO. 569

 

(As amended, November 3, 2011)

 

(Page 1 of 2)

 

 

 

 

 

     <<A bill to amend 1984 PA 270, entitled

 

"Michigan strategic fund act,"

 

by amending sections 9, 29a, and 29d (MCL 125.2009, 125.2029a,

 

and 125.2029d), section 9 as amended by 1987 PA 278 and sections

 

29a and 29d as added by 2008 PA 75, and by adding section 29h.>>

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     <<Sec. 9. (1) The fund shall transmit to the legislature

an annual each quarter a status report of its activities. The

report shall include, but not be limited to, information on name

and location of all applicants, amount and type of financial

assistance being requested, type of project or product being

financed, number of net jobs created or retained, duration of

financial assistance, amount of financial support other than state

resources, and the status of any loans of the fund, excluding

industrial development revenue loans, which are in default. The

report shall not include information exempt from disclosure under

section 5.

     (2) The auditor general or a certified public accountant

appointed by the auditor general annually shall conduct and remit

to the legislature an audit of the fund and, in the conduct of the

audit, shall have access to all records of the fund at any time,

whether or not confidential. Each audit required by this section

shall include a determination of whether the fund is likely to be

able to continue to meet its obligations, including a report on the

status of outstanding loans and agreements made by the fund.

     (3) The fund shall also transmit the status report described

in subsection (1) and audit described in subsection (2) to the

chairperson and minority vice-chairperson of the senate

appropriations subcommittee on general government and the house of

representatives appropriations subcommittee on general government.

The fund shall make the status report and audit available to the

public on the fund's website.>>

 

Senate Bill No. 569 as amended November 3, 2011

 

     Sec. 29a. (1) The Michigan film office is created in the fund.

 

The office shall be the successor to any authority, powers, duties,

 

functions, or responsibilities of the Michigan film office under

 

former section 21 of the history, arts, and libraries act, 2001 PA

 

63. , MCL 399.721.

 

     (2) The office may do all of the following:

 

     (a) Promote and market locations, talent, crews, facilities,

 

and technical production and other services related to film,

 

digital media, and television production in this state.


 

     (b) Provide to interested persons descriptive and pertinent

 

information on locations, talent, crews, facilities, and technical

 

production and other services related to film, digital media, and

 

television production in this state.

 

     (c) Provide technical assistance to the film, television, and

 

digital media industry in locating and securing the use of

 

locations, talent, crews, facilities, and services in this state.

 

     (d) Encourage community and Michigan film, digital media, and

 

television production industry participation in, and coordination

 

with, state and local efforts to attract film, digital media, and

 

television production in this state.

 

     (e) Serve as this state's chief liaison with the film, digital

 

media, and television production industry and with other

 

governmental units and agencies for the purpose of promoting,

 

encouraging, and facilitating film, digital media, and television

 

production in this state.

 

     (f) Explain the benefits and advantages of producing films,

 

digital media, and television productions in this state.

 

     (g) Assist film, digital media, and television producers with

 

securing location authorization and other appropriate services

 

connected with film, digital media, and television production in

 

this state.

 

     (h) Scout potential film locations for national and

 

international film, digital media, and television prospects.

 

     (i) Escort film, digital media, and television producers on

 

location scouting trips.

 

     (j) Serve as a liaison between film, digital media, and


 

television producers, state agencies, local agencies, federal

 

agencies, community organizations and leaders, and the film,

 

digital media, and television industry in this state.

 

     (k) Assist film, digital media, and television producers in

 

securing permits to film at specific locations in this state and in

 

obtaining needed services related to the production of a film,

 

digital media, or a television program.

 

     (l) Represent this state at film, digital media, and television

 

industry trade shows and film festivals.

 

     (m) Sponsor workshops or conferences on topics relating to

 

filmmaking, including, but not limited to, screenwriting, film

 

financing, and the preparation of communities to attract and assist

 

film, digital media, and television productions in this state.

 

     (n) Encourage cooperation between local, state, and federal

 

government agencies and local film offices in the location and

 

production of films, digital media, and television programming in

 

this state.

 

     (o) Coordinate activities with local film offices.

 

     (p) Facilitate cooperation from state departments and

 

agencies, local governments, local film offices, federal agencies,

 

and private sector entities in the location and production of

 

films, digital media, and television programming in this state.

 

     (q) Prepare, maintain, and distribute a directory of persons,

 

firms, and governmental agencies available to assist in the

 

production of films, digital media, and television programming in

 

this state.

 

     (r) Prepare, maintain, and distribute a digital library


 

depicting the variety and extent of the locations within this state

 

for film, digital media, and television productions.

 

     (s) Prepare and distribute appropriate promotional and

 

informational materials that do all of the following:

 

     (i) Describe desirable locations in this state for film,

 

digital media, and television production.

 

     (ii) Explain the benefits and advantages of producing films,

 

digital media, and television productions in this state.

 

     (iii) Detail services and assistance available from state

 

government, from local film offices, and from the film, digital

 

media, and television industry in this state.

 

     (t) Solicit and accept gifts, grants, labor, loans, and other

 

aid from any person, government, or entity.

 

     (u) Employ technical experts, other officers, agents, or

 

employees, permanent or temporary, paid from the funds of the

 

office. The office shall determine the qualifications, duties, and

 

compensation of those the office employs.

 

     (v) Contract for goods and services and engage personnel as

 

necessary to perform the duties of the office under this chapter.

 

     (w) Study, develop, and prepare reports or plans the office

 

considers necessary to assist the office in the exercise of its

 

powers under this chapter and to monitor and evaluate progress

 

under this chapter.

 

     (x) Exercise the duties and responsibilities vested in the

 

office under this chapter and all of the following:

 

     (i) Section 88d.

 

     (ii) Section 88j(3)(e).


 

     (iii) Section 4cc of the general sales tax act, 1933 PA 167, MCL

 

205.54cc.

 

     (iv) Sections 455 to 459 of the Michigan business tax act, 2007

 

PA 36, MCL 208.1455 to 208.1459.

 

     (y) Create and operate a film and digital media production

 

assistance program to encourage film and digital media production

 

throughout this state as provided in section 29h.

 

     (z) (y) All other things necessary or convenient to achieve

 

the objectives and purposes of the office, this chapter, or other

 

laws that relate to the purposes and responsibilities of the

 

office.

 

     (3) The enumeration of a power in this chapter shall not be

 

construed as a limitation upon the general powers of the office.

 

The powers granted under this chapter are in addition to those

 

powers granted by any other law.

 

     (4) The commissioner and the president of the fund shall

 

cooperate in administering the budget, procurement, and related

 

management functions of the office. The fund may provide the office

 

with staff support and other services to assist the office in

 

performing the functions and duties of the office.

 

     (5) State departments, agencies, boards, commissions, and

 

officers and local film offices shall cooperate with the office in

 

the performance of the office's duties under this chapter.

 

     Sec. 29d. (1) The Michigan film promotion fund is created

 

within the state treasury.

 

     (2) The state treasurer may receive money or other assets from

 

any source for deposit into the promotion fund, including federal


 

funds, other state revenues, gifts, bequests, and other donations,

 

including, but not limited to, all of the following:

 

     (a) Fees deposited in the promotion fund under sections 455 to

 

459 of the Michigan business tax act, 2007 PA 36, MCL 208.1455 to

 

208.1459.

 

     (b) Fees deposited in the promotion fund under section 367 of

 

the income tax act of 1967, 1967 PA 281, MCL 206.367.

 

     (c) Proceeds deposited in the promotion fund under section

 

88d.

 

     (d) Funds appropriated to create and operate the film and

 

digital media production assistance program.

 

     (3) The state treasurer shall direct the investment of the

 

promotion fund and shall credit to the promotion fund interest and

 

earnings from promotion fund investments.

 

     (4) Money in the promotion fund at the close of a fiscal year

 

shall remain in the promotion fund and shall not lapse to the

 

general fund.

 

     (5) Money in the promotion fund may be expended, upon

 

appropriation, to support the functions of the office under this

 

chapter and other applicable law and for purposes authorized under

 

this chapter.

 

     (6) Beginning October 1, 2011, the fund shall transfer to and

 

deposit in the promotion fund all money appropriated for Michigan

 

strategic fund – film incentive funding under section 1201 of 2011

 

PA 63.

 

     Sec. 29h. (1) The Michigan film office shall create and

 

operate the film and digital media production assistance program.


 

The film and digital media production assistance program may

 

provide funds to eligible production companies for direct

 

production expenditures, Michigan personnel expenditures, crew

 

personnel expenditures, or qualified personnel expenditures for

 

state certified qualified productions.

 

     (2) If the office receives applications that would exceed what

 

the office can award in any year, the office may prioritize that

 

application for funding in the subsequent year.

 

     (3) The film and digital media production assistance program

 

shall provide for all of the following:

 

     (a) Funding shall be provided only to reimburse direct

 

production expenditures, Michigan personnel expenditures, crew

 

personnel expenditures, or qualified personnel expenditures.

 

     (b) To be eligible to apply for funding, the eligible

 

production company shall have direct production expenditures,

 

Michigan personnel expenditures, or a combination of direct

 

production expenditures and Michigan personnel expenditures, of

 

$100,000.00 or more.

 

     (c) To be eligible to apply for funding, the eligible

 

production company shall not be delinquent in a tax or other

 

obligation owed to this state or be owned or under common control

 

of an entity that is delinquent in a tax or other obligation owed

 

to this state.

 

     (d) For state certified qualified production expenditures

 

after September 30, 2011, an agreement under this section shall

 

provide for funding equal to the sum of the following:

 

     (i) 27% of direct production expenditures.


 

     (ii) Michigan personnel expenditures as follows:

 

     (A) 32% after September 30, 2011 and before January 1, 2015.

 

     (B) 27% after December 31, 2014.

 

     (iii) Crew personnel expenditures as follows:

 

     (A) 25% after September 30, 2011 and before January 1, 2013.

 

     (B) 20% after December 31, 2012 and before January 1, 2014.

 

     (C) 15% after December 31, 2013 and before January 1, 2015.

 

     (D) 10% after December 31, 2014.

 

     (iv) Qualified personnel expenditures as follows:

 

     (a) 27% after September 30, 2011 and before January 1, 2015.

 

     (b) 12% after December 31, 2014.

 

     (v) In addition to the expenditures described in subparagraphs

 

(i), (ii), (iii), and (iv), 3% of direct production expenditures and

 

Michigan personnel expenditures at a qualified facility or

 

postproduction facility for a qualified production produced at the

 

facility.

 

     (e) Payments and compensation for all producers of a qualified

 

production residing in this state shall not exceed 10% of the

 

direct production expenditures and Michigan personnel expenditures

 

for the qualified production.

 

     (f) Payments and compensation for all producers of a qualified

 

production who are not residents of this state shall not exceed 5%

 

of the direct production expenditures and Michigan personnel

 

expenditures for the qualified production.

 

     (g) A television show may submit an application for no more

 

than 2 successive seasons, notwithstanding the fact that the

 

successive seasons have not been ordered. The successive season's


 

direct production expenditure, Michigan personnel expenditure,

 

nonresident above the line personnel expenditure, and nonresident

 

below the line crew expenditure amounts shall be based on the

 

current season's estimated expenditures. Upon the completion of

 

production of each season, a television show may submit an

 

application for no more than 1 additional season.

 

     (h) As a separate and distinct part of the film and digital

 

media production assistance program, the office may create a

 

program to directly support and promote qualified facilities and

 

other infrastructure throughout this state.

 

     (4) An eligible production company intending to produce a

 

qualified production in this state may submit an application for

 

funding under this section to the Michigan film office. The request

 

shall be submitted in a form prescribed by the office and shall be

 

accompanied by an application fee equal to 0.2% of the funding

 

requested but not less than $200.00 and not more than $5,000.00 and

 

all of the information and records requested by the office. An

 

application fee received by the office under this subsection shall

 

be deposited in the Michigan film promotion fund. The office shall

 

not process the application until it is complete. The office shall

 

process each application within 21 days after the application is

 

complete as determined by the office. As part of the application,

 

the company shall estimate direct production expenditures, Michigan

 

personnel expenditures, crew personnel expenditures, and qualified

 

personnel expenditures for an identified qualified production. If

 

the office determines to award funding under this section to an

 

eligible production company, the office with the concurrence of the


 

fund president shall enter into an agreement under this section.

 

The agreement shall include, but is not limited to, all of the

 

following:

 

     (a) A requirement that the eligible production company

 

commence work in this state on the identified qualified production

 

within 90 days of the date of the agreement or else the agreement

 

shall expire. However, upon request submitted by the company based

 

on good cause, the office may extend the period for commencement of

 

work in this state for up to an additional 90 days.

 

     (b) A statement identifying the company and the qualified

 

production that the company intends to produce in whole or in part

 

in this state.

 

     (c) A unique number assigned to the qualified production by

 

the office.

 

     (d) A requirement that the qualified production not depict

 

obscene matter or an obscene performance.

 

     (e) If the qualified production is a long-form narrative film

 

production, a requirement that the qualified production include

 

within its presentation worldwide for the life of the qualified

 

production an acknowledgement as provided by the office that

 

promotes the Pure Michigan tourism campaign or any successor

 

campaign. If the qualified production is a television show, a

 

requirement that the qualified production include within each

 

broadcast of 30 minutes or longer an acknowledgement as provided by

 

the office that promotes the Pure Michigan tourism campaign or any

 

successor campaign. If the qualified production is a music video, a

 

requirement that the music video include an acknowledgement as


 

provided by the office that promotes the Pure Michigan tourism

 

campaign or any successor campaign. If the qualified production is

 

an interactive game, a requirement that the qualified production

 

include with each unit distributed and online promotions an

 

acknowledgement as provided by the office that promotes the Pure

 

Michigan tourism campaign or any successor campaign. If the

 

qualified production is a long-form narrative film production, the

 

office also may require that, if the qualified production is

 

distributed by digital video disc or other digital media for the

 

secondary market, the qualified production include a video between

 

30 and 60 seconds long in a form approved by the office that

 

promotes the Pure Michigan tourism campaign or any successor

 

campaign.

 

     (f) A requirement that the company provide the office with the

 

information and independent certification the office deems

 

necessary to verify direct production expenditures, Michigan

 

personnel expenditures, crew personnel expenditures, qualified

 

personnel expenditures, and eligibility for funding under this

 

section, which may include a report of direct production

 

expenditures, Michigan personnel expenditures, crew personnel

 

expenditures, and qualified personnel expenditures for the

 

qualified production audited and certified by an independent

 

certified public accountant.

 

     (g) If determined to be necessary by the office, a provision

 

for addressing expenditures in excess of those identified in the

 

agreement.

 

     (5) In determining whether to award funding under this


 

section, the Michigan film office shall consider all of the

 

following:

 

     (a) The potential that, in the absence of funding, the

 

qualified production will be produced in a location other than this

 

state.

 

     (b) The extent to which the qualified production may have the

 

effect of promoting this state as a tourist destination.

 

     (c) The extent to which the qualified production may have the

 

effect of promoting economic development or job creation in this

 

state.

 

     (d) The extent to which state funding will attract private

 

investment for the production of qualified productions in this

 

state.

 

     (e) The record of the eligible production company in

 

completing commitments to engage in a qualified production.

 

     (f) The extent to which the qualified production will employ

 

Michigan residents.

 

     (6) If the Michigan film office determines that an eligible

 

production company has complied with the terms of an agreement

 

entered into under this section, the office shall award funding as

 

provided in this section. A person that willfully submits

 

information under this section that the person knows to be

 

fraudulent or false shall, in addition to any other penalties

 

provided by law, be liable for a civil penalty equal to the amount

 

of funding provided to the person under this section. A penalty

 

collected under this section shall be deposited in the Michigan

 

film promotion fund.


 

     (7) Information, records, or other data received, prepared,

 

used, or retained by the Michigan film office under this section

 

that are submitted by an eligible production company and considered

 

by the applicant and acknowledged by the office as confidential

 

shall not be subject to the disclosure requirements of the freedom

 

of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246. Information,

 

records, or other data shall only be considered confidential to the

 

extent that the information or records describe the commercial and

 

financial operations or intellectual property of the company, the

 

information or records have not been publicly disseminated at any

 

time, and disclosure of the information or records may put the

 

company at a competitive disadvantage. For purposes of this

 

subsection, information or records that describe commercial and

 

financial operations do not include that portion of information or

 

records that include any expenses that qualify under this section

 

as direct production expenditures or personnel expenditures.

 

     (8) Not later than March 1, 2012, the office shall produce a

 

performance dashboard for the assistance authorized by this

 

section. The performance dashboard shall be made available by the

 

office on the fund's website and shall be updated at least

 

annually. The performance dashboard shall include the following

 

measures:

 

     (a) Direct and indirect economic impacts in this state of the

 

assistance authorized by this section.

 

     (b) Direct and indirect job creation attributable to the

 

assistance authorized by this section.

 

     (c) Direct and indirect private investment in this state


Senate Bill No. 569 as amended November 3, 2011

 

attributable to the assistance authorized by this section.

 

     (d) Any other measures considered relevant by the office or

 

the Michigan film advisory council.

<<(E) THE NAME OF EACH ELIGIBLE PRODUCTION COMPANY AND THE

AMOUNT OF EACH INCENTIVE DISPERSED FOR EACH STATE CERTIFIED

QUALIFIED PRODUCTION.>>

 

     (9) The Michigan film office shall not award funding after

 

September 30, 2017.

 

     (10) The legislature finds and declares that funding

 

authorized under this section to encourage diversification of the

 

economy, to encourage film production, to encourage investment, and

 

to encourage the creation of jobs in this state is a public purpose

 

and of paramount concern in the interest of the health, safety, and

 

general welfare of the citizens of this state. It is the intent of

 

the legislature that the economic benefits, film production,

 

investment, and the creation of jobs resulting from this section

 

shall accrue substantially within this state.

 

     (11) The fund board may authorize the use of money

 

appropriated for the program authorized by this section for

 

administration of the program. However, the fund board shall not

 

use more than 4% of the annual appropriation for administering the

 

program authorized under this section.

 

     (12) Beginning on September 30, 2011 and at the end of each

 

fiscal year thereafter, the commissioner shall certify the total

 

amount of unclaimed certificates of completion, agreements where

 

work has not commenced as required in subsection (4), and

 

agreements for qualified productions the commissioner reasonably

 

believes will not be completed. Funding allocated for qualified

 

productions described in the preceding sentence may be reallocated.

 

     (13) As used in this section:


 

     (a) "Above the line personnel" means a producer, director,

 

writer, actor, other than extras, or other similar personnel whose

 

compensation is negotiated prior to the start of the production.

 

     (b) "Below the line crew" means persons employed by an

 

eligible production company for state certified qualified

 

production expenditures made after production begins and before

 

production is completed, including, but not limited to, a best boy,

 

boom operator, camera loader, camera operator, assistant camera

 

operator, compositor, dialogue editor, film editor, assistant film

 

editor, focus puller, Foley operator, Foley editor, gaffer, grip,

 

key grip, lighting crew, lighting board operator, lighting

 

technician, music editor, sound editor, sound effects editor, sound

 

mixer, steadicam operator, first assistant camera operator, second

 

assistant camera operator, digital imaging technician, camera

 

operator working with a director of photography, electric best boy,

 

grip best boy, dolly grip, rigging grip, assistant key for makeup,

 

assistant key for hair, assistant script supervisor, set

 

construction foreperson, lead set dresser, assistant key for

 

wardrobe, scenic foreperson, assistant propmaster, assistant audio

 

mixer, assistant boom person, assistant key for special effects,

 

and other similar personnel. Below the line crew does not include a

 

producer, director, writer, actor, or other similar personnel.

 

     (c) "Crew personnel expenditure" means an expenditure made in

 

this state directly attributable to the production or development

 

of a qualified production that is a transaction subject to taxation

 

in this state and is a payment or compensation for nonresident

 

below the line crew, talent, management, or labor, not to exceed


 

$2,000,000.00 for any 1 employee or contractual or salaried

 

employee of a qualified production, including both of the

 

following:

 

     (i) Payment of wages, benefits, or fees for talent, management,

 

or labor.

 

     (ii) Payment to a personal services corporation or professional

 

employer organization for the services of a performing artist or

 

crew member if the personal services corporation or professional

 

employer organization is subject to taxation in this state on the

 

portion of the payment qualifying for funding under this section

 

and the payments received by the performing artist or crew member

 

that are subject to taxation under the income tax act of 1967, 1967

 

PA 281, MCL 206.1 to 206.713, and are withheld and paid to this

 

state in the amount provided under section 351 or 703 of the income

 

tax act of 1967, 1967 PA 281, MCL 206.351 and 206.703.

 

     (d) "Direct production expenditure" means a development,

 

preproduction, production, or postproduction expenditure made in

 

this state directly attributable to the production or development

 

of a qualified production that is a transaction subject to taxation

 

in this state. Direct production expenditure does not include out-

 

of-state production costs that are made in this state even if the

 

costs are passed through a third-party company in this state or

 

payments made by an eligible production company to its parent

 

company, affiliate, subsidiary, or joint venture partner except

 

where the payments are for transactions entered into pursuant to

 

arm's-length negotiations and which reflect a commercially

 

reasonable price for the goods and services purchased. A direct


 

production expenditure must have true economic substance within the

 

state. Direct production expenditure does not include a prize

 

payable to participants in a game show; an expenditure for

 

entertainment, amusement, or recreation; or an expenditure of more

 

than $2,500.00 for the purchase of artwork or jewelry used in a

 

production. Direct production expenditure does not include a

 

Michigan personnel expenditure, a qualified personnel expenditure,

 

or a crew personnel expenditure. Direct production expenditure

 

includes payments to vendors doing business in this state to

 

purchase or use tangible personal property in producing the

 

qualified production or to purchase services relating to the

 

production or development of the qualified production, including

 

all of the following:

 

     (i) Production work, production equipment, production software,

 

development work, postproduction work, postproduction equipment,

 

postproduction software, set design, set construction, set

 

operations, props, lighting, wardrobe, makeup, makeup accessories,

 

photography, sound synchronization, special effects, visual

 

effects, audio effects, digital effects, film processing, music,

 

sound mixing, editing, interactive game development and

 

programming, and related services and materials.

 

     (ii) Use of facilities or equipment, use of soundstages or

 

studios, location fees, and related services and materials.

 

     (iii) Catering, food, lodging, and related services and

 

materials.

 

     (iv) Use of vehicles, which may include chartered aircraft

 

based in this state used for transportation in this state directly


 

attributable to production of a qualified production, but may not

 

include the chartering of aircraft for transportation outside of

 

this state.

 

     (v) Commercial airfare if purchased through a travel agency or

 

travel company based in this state for travel to this state or

 

within this state directly attributable to production or

 

development of a qualified production.

 

     (vi) Insurance coverage or bonding if purchased from an

 

insurance agent based in this state.

 

     (vii) Interest on a loan, if the entity from which the

 

financing is obtained is a public, private, or institutional entity

 

with the requisite level of physical presence in this state that is

 

not related to or affiliated with the eligible production company

 

or any above the line personnel or cast members, and whose

 

principal business activity is the lending of money to individuals

 

and businesses. In addition, the financing shall be a good faith

 

loan, payable by the eligible production company, evidenced by an

 

enforceable promissory note or other debt instrument with clear

 

repayment obligations and bearing a market-related rate of

 

interest.

 

     (viii) Other expenditures for production of a qualified

 

production in accordance with generally accepted entertainment

 

industry practices.

 

     (e) "Eligible production company" or "company" means an entity

 

in the business of producing qualified productions or for

 

interactive games in the business of developing interactive games,

 

but does not include an entity that is more than 30% owned,


 

affiliated, or controlled by an entity or individual who is in

 

default on a loan made by this state, a loan guaranteed by this

 

state, or a loan made or guaranteed by any other state. For an

 

interactive game, an eligible production company need not possess

 

ownership of or legal control over all of the intellectual property

 

rights or other rights necessary to complete the qualified

 

production in its entirety nor be the same entity that distributes

 

or publishes the interactive game.

 

     (f) "Made in this state" means, for purposes of subdivision

 

(c) only, all of the following:

 

     (i) Tangible personal property and services acquired by the

 

eligible production company from a source within this state. If an

 

item of tangible personal property is not available from a source

 

within this state and a vendor with the requisite physical presence

 

in this state that regularly sells or leases property of that kind

 

obtains the property from an out-of-state vendor and sells or

 

leases it to an eligible production company, that expenditure is

 

considered made in this state and is a direct production

 

expenditure and not an out-of-state production cost.

 

     (ii) Services wholly performed within this state.

 

     (g) "Michigan personnel expenditure" means an expenditure made

 

in this state directly attributable to the production or

 

development of a qualified production that is a transaction subject

 

to taxation in this state and is a payment or compensation payable

 

to below the line crew for below the line crew members who are

 

residents of this state and above the line personnel for above the

 

line personnel who are residents of this state, not to exceed


 

$2,000,000.00 for any 1 employee or contractual or salaried

 

employee who performs service in this state for the production of a

 

qualified production, including both of the following:

 

     (i) Payment of wages, benefits, or fees.

 

     (ii) Payment to a personal services corporation or professional

 

employer organization for the services of a performing artist or

 

crew member if the personal services corporation or professional

 

employer organization is subject to taxation in this state on the

 

portion of the payment qualifying for funding under this section

 

and the payments received by the performing artist or crew member

 

that are subject to taxation under the income tax act of 1967, 1967

 

PA 281, MCL 206.1 to 206.713, are withheld and paid to this state

 

in the amount provided under section 351 or 703 of the income tax

 

act of 1967, 1967 PA 281, MCL 206.351 and 206.703.

 

     (h) "Obscene matter or an obscene performance" means matter

 

described in 1984 PA 343, MCL 752.361 to 752.374.

 

     (i) "Postproduction expenditure" means a direct expenditure

 

for editing, Foley recording, automatic dialogue replacement, sound

 

editing, special or visual effects including computer-generated

 

imagery or other effects, scoring and music editing, beginning and

 

end credits, negative cutting, soundtrack production, dubbing,

 

subtitling, or addition of sound or visual effects. Postproduction

 

expenditure includes direct expenditures for advertising,

 

marketing, or related expenses.

 

     (j) "Postproduction facility" means a permanent facility

 

within this state equipped for the postproduction of motion

 

pictures, television shows, or digital media production that meets


 

all of the following requirements:

 

     (i) Includes at least 3,000 square feet of contiguous space.

 

     (ii) Includes at least 8 work stations.

 

     (iii) Has been a qualified film and digital media infrastructure

 

project from which an investment expenditure certificate was issued

 

under section 457 of the Michigan business tax act, 2007 PA 36, MCL

 

208.1457, or has been the location of a state certified qualified

 

production for which a postproduction certificate of completion was

 

issued under section 455 of the Michigan business tax act, 2007 PA

 

36, MCL 208.1455, or both.

 

     (k) "Producer" means and individual without regard to his or

 

her actual title or screen credit involved in or responsible for

 

any of the following:

 

     (i) Funding for financing in whole or in part, or arranging for

 

the funding, or financing, of the qualified production.

 

     (ii) Obtaining the creative rights to or the intellectual

 

property for development or production of the qualified production.

 

     (iii) Hiring above the line personnel.

 

     (iv) Supervising the overall production of the qualified

 

production.

 

     (v) Arranging for the exhibition of the qualified production.

 

     (l) "Qualified facility" means a permanent facility within this

 

state equipped for the production of motion pictures, television

 

shows, or digital media production that meets all of the following

 

requirements:

 

     (i) Includes more than 1 soundstage.

 

     (ii) Includes not less than 3,000 square feet of contiguous,


 

column-free space for production activities with a height of at

 

least 12 feet.

 

     (iii) Includes any grid and sufficient built-in electric service

 

for shooting without the need of portable electric generators.

 

     (iv) Has been a qualified film and digital media infrastructure

 

project for which an investment expenditure certificate was issued

 

under section 457 of the Michigan business tax act, 2007 PA 36, MCL

 

208.1457, or has been the location of a state certified qualified

 

production for which a postproduction certificate of completion was

 

issued under section 455 of the Michigan business tax act, 2007 PA

 

36, MCL 208.1455, or both.

 

     (m) "Qualified personnel expenditure" means an expenditure

 

made in this state directly attributable to the production or

 

development of a qualified production that is a transaction subject

 

to taxation in this state and is a payment or compensation for

 

nonresident above the line personnel, talent, management, or labor,

 

not to exceed $2,000,000.00 for any 1 employee or contractual or

 

salaried employee of a qualified production, including both of the

 

following:

 

     (i) Payment of wages, benefits, or fees for talent, management,

 

or labor.

 

     (ii) Payment to a personal services corporation or professional

 

employer organization for the services of a performing artist or

 

crew member if the personal services corporation or professional

 

employer organization is subject to taxation in this state on the

 

portion of the payment qualifying for funding under this section

 

and the payments received by the performing artist or crew member


 

that are subject to taxation under the income tax act of 1967, 1967

 

PA 281, MCL 206.1 to 206.713, and are withheld and paid to this

 

state in the amount provided under section 351 or 703 of the income

 

tax act of 1967, 1967 PA 281, MCL 206.351 and 206.703.

 

     (n) "State certified qualified production" or "qualified

 

production" means single media or multimedia entertainment content

 

created in whole or in part in this state for distribution or

 

exhibition to the general public in 2 or more states by any means

 

and media in any digital media format, film, or video tape,

 

including, but not limited to, a motion picture, a documentary, a

 

television series, a television miniseries, a television special,

 

interstitial television programming, long-form television,

 

interactive television, music videos, interactive games such as

 

video games or wireless games, including console, computer, mobile,

 

and online games, commercials, internet programming, an internet

 

video, a sound recording, a video, digital animation, or an

 

interactive website. Qualified production also includes any

 

trailer, pilot, video teaser, or demo created primarily to

 

stimulate the sale, marketing, promotion, or exploitation of future

 

investment in a production. Qualified production does not include

 

any of the following:

 

     (i) A production for which records are required to be

 

maintained with respect to any performer in the production under 18

 

USC 2257.

 

     (ii) A production that includes obscene matter or an obscene

 

performance.

 

     (iii) A production that primarily consists of televised news or


 

current events.

 

     (iv) A production that primarily consists of a live sporting

 

event.

 

     (v) A production that primarily consists of political

 

advertising.

 

     (vi) A radio program.

 

     (vii) A weather show.

 

     (viii) A financial market report.

 

     (ix) An awards show or other gala event production.

 

     (x) A production with the primary purpose of fund-raising.

 

     (xi) A production that primarily is for employee training or

 

in-house corporate advertising or other similar production.