California film tax credit legislation is a blockbuster hit with jobs

Today, the California Film Commission announced the first round of recipients for feature films and independent projects, bringing back jobs and revenue to California as promised by AB 1839, known as the California Film and Television Job Retention and Promotion Act of 2014.  The film tax credit program was spearheaded by Assemblymembers Mike Gatto (D-Glendale) and Raul Bocanegra (D-Pacoima).

The legislation, introduced by Gatto and Bocanegra in January 2014, was co-authored by more than sixty-five legislators, and received bipartisan support.  The bill also had the support of the business and labor community across California because of its focus on high-wage jobs for below-the-line workers.  It significantly expanded and improved the state’s film tax incentive program to keep production jobs in California, including a five year program extension, an increase in the program’s budget allocation to $330 million annually, and the creation of a new competitive jobs rating system to determine which projects will receive the credits.