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A MEMORIAL

SUPPORTING A SUSTAINABLE NEW MEXICO FILM INDUSTRY AND

REQUESTING THAT THE GOVERNOR ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE TO STUDY

AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO INCREASE INVESTMENT IN FILM

PRODUCTION COMPANIES THAT ARE ORGANIZED IN NEW MEXICO AND

OPERATED AND MANAGED BY NEW MEXICO RESIDENTS.

WHEREAS, New Mexico has successfully advanced the growth

of the film and television industry and infrastructure through

the state investment council's film investment program, the

tax rebate incentive and construction bonds; and

WHEREAS, despite New Mexico's support of the film

industry in general, qualified New Mexico-based film producers

have not shared equally in the financial opportunities; and

WHEREAS, only one out of twenty-one projects selected by

the state investment council for financial support was

produced by a New Mexico-based production company; and

WHEREAS, of the one hundred fifty-four million dollars

($154,000,000) invested in film production, only one million

seven hundred thousand dollars ($1,700,000) was invested in a

New Mexico-based production company; and

WHEREAS, New Mexico will benefit from the growth and

retention of New Mexico-based film production companies and

will benefit by fostering and protecting the state's

investment in infrastructure and trained filmmakers; and

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WHEREAS, focusing the benefits of New Mexico's film

production incentives on local film producers will create a

more sustainable film industry in this state and will

effectuate the real purpose of the production incentives;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the governor

be requested to form a task force to assess the financial

opportunities and incentives provided to New Mexico-based film

production companies in relation to non-New Mexico-based film

production companies and make recommendations to the

legislature for improvements to state law and economic

development incentives to provide greater support to New

Mexico-based film production companies; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force consist of a

member from each of the following: the New Mexico film

division of the economic development department; the taxation

and revenue department; the state investment council; the

governor's council on film and media industries; and the New

Mexico producer's coalition; as well as at least three

representatives of film production companies that are

organized in New Mexico and are operated and managed by New

Mexico residents and other members as deemed necessary; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force assess the

financial opportunities and incentives provided to New Mexico-

based film production companies in relation to non-New Mexico-

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based film production companies in this state, evaluate

approaches by other state governments to increase film

production by local producers and analyze existing state laws

dealing with investment into and incentivizing of local film

production companies; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force prepare a

report detailing its findings and recommending laws and

methods to improve investment into and incentivizing of local

film production companies; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force report its

findings and recommendations to the governor and the

appropriate interim legislative committee by November 1, 2007;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the governor, the state investment officer, the

secretary of economic development, the secretary of taxation

and revenue, the director of the New Mexico film division of

the economic development department and the governor's council

on film and media industries.