SB-0569, As Passed House, December 15, 2011
HOUSE SUBSTITUTE FOR
SENATE BILL NO. 569
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.
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. The film office shall
disclose the identity and amount of all gifts, grants, and other
donations on its website.
(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.
(i) That not less than 5% of the funding awarded under this
section is awarded for postproduction expenditures for qualified
productions.
(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
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, 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.
(xii) A commercial.