I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 841
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 relating to the unemployment
tax for individuals employed in the entertainment industry.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 26, 1997
Mr. ENGLISH of Pennsylvania (for himself, Mr. MATSUI, Mr. ROYCE, Mr. EN-
SIGN, Mr. GEJDENSON, and Mr. WAXMAN) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
A BILL
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 relating to
the unemployment tax for individuals employed in the
entertainment industry.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. INDIVIDUALS EMPLOYED IN ENTERTAINMENT
INDUSTRY.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3304(a)(15) of the Inter-
nal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to reductions in tax)
is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (A),
(2) by striking the period at the end of sub-
paragraph (B) and inserting ‘‘; and’’, and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(C) in the case of a pension, retirement or re-
tired pay, annuity, or other similar periodic payment
under an entertainment industry plan contributed to
by an employer—
‘‘(i) such a reduction shall not be re-
quired by reason of such a payment un-
less—
‘‘(I) such individual worked for
such employer before the base period,
and
‘‘(II) such employer contributed
to such plan on account of such indi-
vidual’s work for such employer before
the base period, and
‘‘(ii) subject to subparagraph (B),
such reduction shall not exceed the amount
(if any) of the increase referred to in sub-
paragraph (A)(ii) in such payment which is
attributable to services performed by such
individual for such employer;’’.
(b) ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY PLAN
AND EM-
PLOYER.—Section 3304 of such Code is amended by add-
ing at the end the following new subsection:
‘‘(g) ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY PLANS AND EM-
PLOYERS.—For purposes of subsection (a)(15)(C)—
‘‘(1) ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY PLAN.—The
term ‘entertainment industry plan’ means any multi-
employer plan substantially all of the contributions
to which are made by entertainment industry em-
ployers.
‘‘(2) ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY EMPLOYER.—
The term ‘entertainment industry employer’ means
any employer substantially all of the trades or busi-
nesses of which consists of either or both—
‘‘(A) radio or television broadcasting, and
‘‘(B) the production or distribution of vis-
ual images or sound on—
‘‘(i) video or audiotape,
‘‘(ii) film, or
‘‘(iii) computer-generated or other vis-
ual or audio media,
for public dissemination (whether for entertainment,
informational, commercial, educational, religious, or
other purposes).’’
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The amendments made by
this section shall apply to weeks beginning after De-
cember 31, 1997.
(2) SPECIAL RULE.—In the case of any State
the legislature of which has not been in session for
at least 30 calendar days (whether or not successive)
between the date of the enactment of this Act and
December 31, 1997, the amendments made by this
section shall apply to weeks beginning after the date
which is 30 calendar days after the first day on
which such legislature is in session on or after De-
cember 31, 1997.
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