Chapter 1 - California Film Commission

California Government Code — §§ 14998-14998.13

Sections (6)

Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 302, Sec. 1. (AB 3256) Effective January 1, 2019.

(a)This chapter shall be known, and may be cited, as the Motion Picture, Television, and Commercial Industries Act of 1984.

(b)For purposes of this chapter, both of the following shall apply:

(1)“Board” means the Board of Commissioners of the California Film Commission.

(2)“Commission” means the California Film Commission.

(c)For purposes of this part, “media production” includes, but is not limited to, the production of motion pictures, film, digital media, television, commercials, and still

photography.

§ 14998.1

Amended by Stats. 1993, Ch. 1153, Sec. 24. Effective October 11, 1993.

The Legislature finds that motion picture production in California provides unique and significant contributions to the economy of California and to the cultural enrichment of its citizens, as well as providing a unique form of entertainment for the state, country, and the world at large. The Legislature finds that expenditures for hotels, catered food, leases of equipment and property, transportation, and wages and salaries paid to individuals in California as a result of motion picture production benefit the California economy directly and indirectly.

However, the Legislature finds that the significant benefits provided to California by motion picture production are in jeopardy as a result of the concerted efforts of other states and countries to lure this production away from California.

Therefore, the Legislature finds a need for concerted efforts by California state and local governments to provide an environment supportive of, and conducive to, the undertakings of the motion picture industry in this state. A key element of this effort is to make California as uniform as possible in the local regulation and permitting of the film industry; as close to a “one-stop permitting” approach as possible.

§ 14998.10

Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 302, Sec. 11. (AB 3256) Effective January 1, 2019.

It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage local governments to develop uniform procedures for issuing permits and to charge fees for the use of agency property or employee services, which do not exceed the estimated reasonable costs of providing the property or services for which the fees are charged.

It is also the intent of the Legislature to encourage local governments to establish departments which would allow media productions to obtain all the locally required permits at one location.

§ 14998.11

Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 302, Sec. 12. (AB 3256) Effective January 1, 2019.

The commission shall perform the following functions and activities:

(a)Provide staff to the board.

(b)Implement the Cooperative Motion Picture Marketing Plan.

(c)Provide services necessary to increase the amount of filming within California.

(d)Create a navigational link on its Internet Web site labeled “Independent Films.” The navigational link shall contain information explaining the qualified motion picture tax credits available to independent films pursuant to Sections 17053.95 and 23695 of the Revenue and Taxation Code. The navigational link

shall also contain information relating to the application process and shall highlight that the commission is required to allocate 5 percent of the aggregate amount of credits to independent films.

§ 14998.12

Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 302, Sec. 13. (AB 3256) Effective January 1, 2019.

(a)(1) The commission shall develop and oversee the implementation of a Cooperative Motion Picture Marketing Plan. The plan shall increase the marketing efforts of the commission, and offer state resources to local film commissions and local government liaisons to the film industry for the purpose of marketing their locales to the motion picture industry.

(2)In addition to paragraph (1), the resources offered under the plan for marketing shall be used to recruit local government participation in, and development of, local film commissions.

(3)For purposes of this section, resources offered to local film commissions and local

government liaisons to the media production industry shall include all of the following:

(A)Grants for partial or full funding of the cost to develop or participate in workshops, trade shows, seminars, or meetings that assist local governments to promote and market the use of their locales by the motion picture industry. Eligible meetings shall also include those called or approved by the director of the commission to further the purposes of the Cooperative Motion Picture Marketing Plan.

(B)The services of a professional photographer, including material and expenses, to take still photographs of media production locations for inclusion in the location resource library established pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 14998.9.

(C)Appropriate promotional and informational materials for the purpose of mailing or

distributing to the media production industry. The materials shall include, but not be limited to, brochures, print and online ads, and direct marketing materials which state the benefits and advantages of producing media productions within the state or the locales participating in the Cooperative Motion Picture Marketing Plan.

(b)Any resource requested under the provisions of the Cooperative Motion Picture Marketing Plan not specified in this section shall be subject to the approval of the board.

(c)The commission shall expand and upgrade the location resource library through the use of a librarian, a computerized catalog system, and a professional photographer.

(d)As a condition of eligibility for the use of resources pursuant to this section, a local government shall demonstrate substantial compliance with the

model process for granting film permits described in Section 14999.20.

(e)The commission shall adopt additional guidelines as needed for the implementation of the plan.

(f)The purpose of the Cooperative Motion Picture Marketing Plan is in no way to discourage, limit, or impede the participation of local governments in the Film Liaisons in California, Statewide, commonly referred to as F.L.I.C.S.

§ 14998.13

Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 302, Sec. 14. (AB 3256) Effective January 1, 2019.

(a)As a means to carry out the California Film Commission’s purposes of encouraging and promoting media production in California and maintaining and improving the position of the state’s motion picture industry in the national and world markets, there is hereby created in the State Treasury, the Film Promotion and Marketing Fund.

(b)The Treasurer shall invest moneys contained in the Film Promotion and Marketing Fund not needed to meet current obligations in the same manner as other public funds are invested. Interest that accrues from the investments shall be credited to the fund.

(c)Proceeds that accrue to the state from the sales of location library

documents, photocopying, and other film-related informational documents, sponsorships, and donations shall be deposited in the fund.

(d)The commission may receive and accept for deposit in the Film Promotion and Marketing Fund moneys from any and all public or private sources that support the purposes within this chapter.

(e)Moneys in the Film Promotion and Marketing Fund shall be available for expenditure by the commission, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for activities performed consistent with the Cooperative Motion Picture Marketing Plan pursuant to Section 14998.12.