SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Today, the California Film Commission announced that four major television productions will be relocating to California from out of state, bringing back the jobs and revenue as promised by AB 1839, known as the California Film and Television Job Retention and Promotion Act of 2014. The California Film Commission also announced that 11 television productions were allocated tax credits under the new law spearheaded Assemblymembers Mike Gatto (D-Glendale) and Raul Bocanegra (D-Pacoima).
“I am proud to have authored AB 1839, the California Film and Television Job Retention and Promotion Act of 2014,” said Gatto. “I’ve heard from so many people during my time in office, who have told me about their families being torn apart because of production fleeing the state, and how this program will give stability to families, certainty to small businesses, and will help our communities thrive.”
The legislation, introduced by Gatto and Bocanegra in January 2014, was co-authored by more than sixty-five other legislators, and received bipartisan support from below-the-line workers from every region of California. It significantly expanded and improves 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.
“We knew this expanded and improved program would deliver for California. Today’s news is exactly what we hoped for: good, middle class jobs in television and movies returning to our state,” said Gatto. “The proof is in the results, with more to come in the years ahead.”
Mike Gatto is the Chairman of the Consumer Protection and Privacy Committee, and the longest-serving member of the State Assembly. He represents California’s 43rd Assembly District, which includes Burbank, Glendale, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose, and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Atwater Village, East Hollywood, Franklin Hills, Hollywood Hills, Los Feliz, and Silver Lake. www.asm.ca.gov/gatto
