Appropriates funds to promote film and digital media production activity in the State.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that film and digital media industry generates significant economic activity worldwide. As a result, several countries have taken steps to attract film and digital media production through financial incentives, and programs to promote these industries have been created to garner a greater share of the industry.

As such, the legislature believes that the State must take an active role in promoting Hawaii as not only a desirable, but viable place to produce film and digital media productions.

To accomplish this belief, a major objective is to market and promote Hawaii as the world's premier tropical film location, in order to attract national and international television and film production to the State. The legislature envisions the "selling" of Hawaii as more than just a tropical location for film and television production, but one that can double for a variety of "looks" and location.

The legislature also believes that one of the most critical objectives, in relation to marketing efforts, is the need to create an efficient, cost-effective, and service-oriented environment in which filmmakers and digital media producers can work. The State needs to nurture its liaison activities with the film and digital media industry and strive to maintain positive relations among the film and digital media industry, the community, labor, and business. In doing so, the State will be able to build a sustainable, self-sufficient local film and digital media industry.

The legislature also believes that increasing film and digital media production activity would stimulate the development of more equipment services, provide a deeper pool of local technicians and support personnel, and eliminate the need to transport equipment and personnel from other locales.

To this end, increasing marketing efforts via sponsorships and trade shows to promote Hawaii as an ideal and diverse filming and digital media production location will be essential in getting Hawaii's message out to the film and digital media production community.

The purpose of this Act is to strengthen Hawaii's economy by appropriating funds to keep Hawaii competitive in the film and digital media production market so that the State may keep pace with national and international competition.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $700,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2005-2006, for personnel, studio, marketing, neighbor island business development, and other costs associated with developing and promoting Hawaii's film and digital media industry; provided that of the sum appropriated, each county film office shall be allocated $25,000 to assist the State in accomplishing the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of business, economic development, and tourism for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2005.