Increases transparency in certain film production and post-production tax credits
Summary
A11092 would require the New York State Department of Economic Development to produce a quarterly public report on film production and post-production tax credits. The report would be due within 15 days after the end of each calendar quarter and would be sent to the governor, the Division of the Budget, and the chairs of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee, as well as posted on the department’s website.
The report would cover tax credits claimed under the state’s film production and post-production credit provisions and would break out information both by project and in the aggregate by county. Required data would include qualified production costs, where those costs were incurred, days of principal photography, where filming occurred, employee counts and residency/work locations, credit-eligible work hours, and the amount of credits issued. The bill would take effect one year after becoming law.
Impact
The bill would amend the Economic Development Law by adding a new reporting duty for the Department of Economic Development related to film tax credits. It does not change the underlying eligibility rules for the credits themselves, but it would increase disclosure and oversight of credits claimed under Tax Law sections 24 and 31 by requiring regular public reporting and county-level aggregation of project activity and credit amounts. The main affected parties would be the department, state budget and fiscal committees, film production and post-production companies claiming credits, and the public and policymakers who would gain access to more detailed information about the program.
Sentiment
Based on the bill caption and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the measure appears to be framed as a transparency and accountability bill rather than a controversial policy change. The stated purpose is to increase visibility into how film tax credits are used, suggesting generally favorable or at least procedural support for better reporting. No opposing arguments or recorded vote history are available in the provided materials.
Contention
The primary point of potential contention is the increased reporting burden on the Department of Economic Development and, indirectly, on film production companies that may need to supply more detailed project and workforce information. Supporters are likely to emphasize transparency, public oversight, and better evaluation of the film credit program, while any critics would likely focus on administrative costs, confidentiality concerns, or the possibility that county- and project-level disclosure could reveal sensitive business information. No specific objections were recorded in the provided committee materials.
Same As
Requires the department of economic development issue a quarterly report on film production and post-production tax credits by project and by county in the aggregate and publish such reports on such department's website.
Requires third-party verification of an application to receive the Empire State film production credit and the Empire State film post production credit by approved certified public accountants.