House Bill 704

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE REBATE OF A PORTION OF INVESTMENT AND EXPENDITURES MADE BY COMPANIES ENGAGED IN THE PRODUCTION OF NATIONALLY DISTRIBUTED CONNECTED SETS OF TELEVISION PROGRAM EPISODES, CONSISTING OF NOT LESS THAN TWO EPISODES MADE IN MISSISSIPPI, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, FOR VIEWING THROUGH TRADITIONAL TELEVISION THAT IS BROADCAST VIA CABLE, SATELLITE OR OVER-THE-AIR AERIAL ANTENNA SYSTEMS; THROUGH THE DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION OF TELEVISION CONTENT AS STREAMING MEDIA OVER THE INTERNET THROUGH STREAMING PLATFORMS, WHICH MAY BE VIEWED ON DIGITAL DEVICES, SUCH AS A PERSONAL COMPUTER OR HANDHELD DEVICE; OR THROUGH DVD RELEASE; TO PROVIDE FOR THE AMOUNT OF THE REBATES AUTHORIZED IN THIS ACT; TO DEFINE CERTAIN TERMS; TO AMEND SECTION 57-89-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH IS A SECTION OF THE MISSISSIPPI MOTION PICTURE INCENTIVE ACT, TO CONFORM TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed in this subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) "Base investment" means the actual investment made and expended in Mississippi by a production company in connection with the production of a state-certified production in the state. The term "base investment" includes amounts expended in Mississippi by a production company as per diem and housing allowances in connection with the production of a state-certified production in the state. The term "base investment" shall not include payroll. However, in the case of a production company, or its owner, principal, member, production partner, independent contractor director or producer, or subsidiary company that (i) is designated and pre-qualified by the Mississippi Development Authority as Mississippi-based or a Mississippi resident; (ii) has filed income taxes in the State of Mississippi during each of the previous three (3) years; and (iii) has engaged in activities related to the production of at least two (2) series in Mississippi during the past ten (10) years, base investment may include payroll and fringes paid for any employee who is not a resident and whose wages are subject to the Mississippi Income Tax Withholding Law of 1968, if so requested by the production company. A production company must submit such a request to the Mississippi Development Authority at the time the company submits an application for approval as a state-certified production. In addition, if base investment includes payroll and fringes, and the payroll and fringes paid for an employee exceeds Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000.00), then only the first Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000.00) of such payroll and fringes may be included in base investment.

(b) "Employee" means an individual directly involved in the physical production and/or post-production of a series produced in the state and who is employed by a:

(i) Production company that is directly involved in the physical production and/or post-production of a series in the state;

(ii) Personal service corporation retained by a production company to provide persons used directly in the physical production and/or post-production of a series in the state; or

(iii) Payroll service or loan-out company that is retained by a production company to provide employees who work directly in the physical production and/or post-production of a series in the state.

(c) "Fringes" means costs paid by a production company for employee benefits that are not subject to state income tax. Fringes may include, but are not limited to, payments by an employer for unemployment insurance, Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA), workers' compensation insurance, pension and welfare benefits and health insurance premiums.

(d) "Series" means a nationally distributed connected set of television program episodes, consisting of not less than two (2) episodes made in Mississippi, in whole or in part, for viewing through: traditional television that is broadcast via cable, satellite or over-the-air aerial antenna systems; the digital distribution of television content as streaming media over the Internet through streaming platforms, which may be viewed on digital devices, such as a personal computer or handheld device; or through DVD release. The term "series" shall not include any production or work described in this paragraph (d) that contains any material or performance defined in Section 97-29-103.

(e) "Production company" means a company engaged in the business of producing series. The term "production company" shall not mean or include any company owned, affiliated, or controlled, in whole or in part, by any company or person which is in default on a loan made by the state or a loan guaranteed by the state, or any company or person who has ever declared bankruptcy under which an obligation of the company or person to pay or repay public funds or monies was discharged as a part of such bankruptcy.

(f) "Payroll" means salary, wages or other compensation including related benefits paid to employees upon which Mississippi income tax is due and has been withheld.

(g) "Resident" or "resident of Mississippi" means a natural person, and for the purpose of determining eligibility for the rebate provided by this section, any person domiciled in the State of Mississippi and any other person who maintains a permanent place of abode within the state and spends in the aggregate more than six (6) months of each year within the state.

(h) "State" means the State of Mississippi.

(i) "State-certified production" means a series approved by the Mississippi Development Authority produced by a production company in the state. An application for approval as a state-certified production must be submitted to the Mississippi Development Authority before production of the project begins.

(2) (a) A production company that expends at least Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) in base investment, payroll and/or fringes, in the state shall be entitled to a rebate of a portion of the base investment made by the production company. Subject to the provisions of this section, the amount of the rebate shall be equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of the base investment made by the production company.

(b) In addition to the rebates authorized under paragraphs (a), (c) and (d) of this subsection, a production company may receive a rebate equal to twenty percent (20%) of payroll and fringes paid for any employee who is not a resident and whose wages are subject to the Mississippi Income Tax Withholding Law of 1968. However, if the payroll and fringes paid for an employee exceeds Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000.00), then the rebate is authorized only for the first Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000.00) of such payroll and fringes.

(c) In addition to the rebates authorized under paragraphs (a), (b) and (d) of this subsection, a production company may receive a rebate equal to thirty-five percent (35%) of payroll and fringes paid for any employee who is a resident and whose wages are subject to the Mississippi Income Tax Withholding Law of 1968. However, if the payroll and fringes paid for an employee exceeds Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000.00), then the rebate is authorized only for the first Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000.00) of such payroll and fringes.

(d) In addition to the rebates authorized in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this subsection, a production company may receive an additional rebate equal to five percent (5%) of the payroll and fringes paid for any employee who is an honorably discharged veteran of the United States Armed Forces and whose wages are subject to the Mississippi Income Tax Withholding Law of 1968.

(e) Base investment, payroll and/or fringes for which a rebate may be requested under this section: (i) may not be used or included for the purpose of satisfying any minimum investment required in order to be eligible for a rebate under the Mississippi Motion Picture Incentive Act and (ii) may not be used for and shall not be eligible for any rebate authorized under the Mississippi Motion Picture Incentive Act.

(f) If a series has physical production activities and/or post-production activities both inside and outside the state, then the production company shall be required to provide an itemized accounting for each employee regarding such activities inside and outside the state for the purposes of proration of eligible payroll based on the percentage of activities performed in the state.

(g) The total amount of rebates authorized in any fiscal year shall not exceed Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00) in the aggregate.

(2) A production company desiring a rebate under this section must submit a rebate request to the Department of Revenue upon completion of the project. The request must include a detailed accounting of the base investment made by the production company and any other information required by the Department of Revenue. Rebates made by the Department of Revenue under this section shall be made from current income tax collections.

(3) The Department of Revenue shall have all powers necessary to implement and administer the provisions of this section, and the Department of Revenue shall promulgate rules and regulations, in accordance with the Mississippi Administrative Procedures Law, necessary for the implementation of this section.

SECTION 2. Section 57-89-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

57-89-7. (1) (a) A motion picture production company that expends at least Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) in base investment, payroll and/or fringes, in the state shall be entitled to a rebate of a portion of the base investment made by the motion picture production company. Subject to the provisions of this section, the amount of the rebate shall be equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of the base investment made by the motion picture production company.

(b) In addition to the rebates authorized under paragraphs (a), (c) and (d) of this subsection, a motion picture production company may receive a rebate equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of payroll and fringes paid for any employee who is not a resident and whose wages are subject to the Mississippi Income Tax Withholding Law of 1968. However, if the payroll and fringes paid for an employee exceeds Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00), then the rebate is authorized only for the first Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00) of such payroll and fringes.

(c) In addition to the rebates authorized under paragraphs (a), (b) and (d) of this subsection, a motion picture production company may receive a rebate equal to thirty percent (30%) of payroll and fringes paid for any employee who is a resident and whose wages are subject to the Mississippi Income Tax Withholding Law of 1968. However, if the payroll and fringes paid for an employee exceeds Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00), then the rebate is authorized only for the first Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00) of such payroll and fringes.

(d) In addition to the rebates authorized in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this subsection, a motion picture production company may receive an additional rebate equal to five percent (5%) of the payroll and fringes paid for any employee who is an honorably discharged veteran of the United States Armed Forces and whose wages are subject to the Mississippi Income Tax Withholding Law of 1968.

(e) Base investment, payroll and/or fringes for which a rebate may be requested under this section: (i) may not be used or included for the purpose of satisfying any minimum investment required in order to be eligible for a rebate under Section 1 of this act and (ii) may not be used for and shall not be eligible for any rebate authorized under Section 1 of this act.

( * * *ef) If a motion picture has physical production activities and/or post-production activities both inside and outside the state, then the motion picture production company shall be required to provide an itemized accounting for each employee regarding such activities inside and outside the state for the purposes of proration of eligible payroll based on the percentage of activities performed in the state.

( * * *fg) The total amount of rebates authorized for a motion picture project shall not exceed Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00) in the aggregate.

( * * *gh) The total amount of rebates authorized in any fiscal year shall not exceed Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000.00) in the aggregate.

(2) A motion picture production company desiring a rebate under this section must submit a rebate request to the Department of Revenue upon completion of the project. The request must include a detailed accounting of the base investment made by the motion picture production company and any other information required by the Department of Revenue. Rebates made by the Department of Revenue under this section shall be made from current income tax collections. The Department of Revenue shall not approve any application for a rebate under subsection (1)(b) of this section after July 1, 2017.

(4) The State Auditor may conduct performance and compliance audits under this chapter according to Section 7-7-211(o) and may bill the oversight agency.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2023.