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Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the summary and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1. 36 MRSA §6903  is enacted to read:
§ 6903.  Film incentive credit for media productions in rural Maine
 
1.  Film incentive credit eligibility.     At the discretion of the Governor, a media production company that qualifies for reimbursement under section 6902 is allowed a film incentive credit under this section if the media production is a feature film that meets the following requirements.
 
A.  The estimated production expenditures for activities in the State exceed $1,500,000 but do not exceed $10,000,000.
 
B.  The primary time period of activities in the State occurs between September 1, 2008 and January 1, 2009.
 
C.  The primary location of filming occurs in rural areas in the State.
 
2.  Amount of film incentive credit.     A media production company determined eligible for a film incentive credit under subsection 1 is allowed a credit equal to 50% of the certified production wages of the media production company that are related to the media production in this State but no more than $800,000. The film incentive credit under this section is in addition to any other reimbursement or credits to which the media production company is entitled.
 
3.  Procedure for claiming film incentive credit.    By July 1, 2010 a media production company shall report to the Governor the amount of certified production wages eligible for the film incentive credit under this section, together with any additional information the Governor may reasonably require. The Governor, upon determining that the media production company is eligible for the film incentive credit under this section, shall provide certification of the Governor's determination to the State Tax Assessor and to the Department of Economic and Community Development. The assessor shall report to the commissioner the film incentive credit amount to which a media production company is entitled. The commissioner shall pay the credit amount to each certified media production company in 4 equal annual installments beginning in July 2010 and in July of each of the following 3 years. The film incentive credit under this section is subject to the same audit provisions as under section 6902, subsection 3.’
 
SUMMARY
This amendment provides the Governor with the discretion of determining whether a media production company is eligible for a film incentive credit.