An Act To Ensure Continued Access to Film and Stage Theaters and Music Venues
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1641
Committee: Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business
Sponsors: DAUGHTRY
Amends: 5 MRSA §13056-I

Legislative Document
No. 1641
S.P. 526
In Senate, May 5, 2021
An Act To Ensure Continued Access to Film and Stage Theaters and 
Music Venues
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on May 3, 2021.  Referred to the Committee on 
Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 
and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator DAUGHTRY of Cumberland.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §13056-I is enacted to read:
§13056-I.  Film and Stage Theaters and Music Venue Fund
1.  Fund established.  The Film and Stage Theaters and Music Venue Fund, referred 
to in this section as "the fund," is established as a nonlapsing fund within the department 
in order to provide funds to film and stage theaters and music venues within this State that 
meet the eligibility requirements of this section.  The fund may receive appropriations, 
allocations, grants or gifts from any federal agency or governmental subdivision or the 
State and its agencies.  The fund may also accept donations from private sources.  The 
department shall adopt rules establishing an application process for persons to apply for 
grants under this section.  The application must include all information necessary for the 
purpose of determining grant eligibility under this section.
2.  Eligibility.  An applicant for a grant under this section must, in accordance with 
rules adopted by the department, demonstrate that the applicant:
A.  Operates in this State either:
(1)  A movie theater that has at least one permanent indoor auditorium for viewing 
films for entertainment by members of the general public who attend through the 
purchase of individual tickets to view a specific film that is not adult-oriented, as 
defined by the department by rule, and had at least $15,000 in ticket sales in 2019;
(2)  A stage theater that has at least one permanent stage for viewing live plays or 
similar stage productions by members of the general public who attend through the 
purchase of individual tickets; or
(3)  A music venue that has at least one public space for viewing a live concert or 
musical performance by members of the general public who attend through the 
purchase of individual tickets, and the majority of income generated by the music 
venue is derived through such ticket sales;
B.  Experienced, with respect to the operation of the movie theater, stage theater or 
music venue that satisfies the criteria of paragraph A, subparagraph (1), (2) or (3), a 
decline of 30% or more in overall ticket sales in 2020 as compared with 2019 as 
measured by sales in the 2nd and 3rd quarters of each year;
C.  Experienced the decline described in paragraph B as a result of the effect of 
executive orders issued by the Governor during a state of emergency declared as a 
result of the COVID-19 pandemic that limited the capacity or operations of the movie 
theater, stage theater or music venue that satisfies the criteria of paragraph A, 
subparagraph (1), (2) or (3); and
D.  Has no current state or local tax liens on record related to the movie theater, stage 
theater or music venue that satisfies the criteria of paragraph A, subparagraph (1), (2) 
or (3).
3.  Awarding grants.  To the extent funds are available, the department may award a 
grant to a person who meets the eligibility requirements of this section and who:
A.  Operates a movie theater that satisfies the criteria of subsection 2, paragraph A, 
subparagraph (1), in an amount up to $15,000 per movie screen for the first 2 movie 
screens and up to $10,000 for each additional movie screen up to a total amount not to 
exceed $150,000 per theatre;
B.  Operates a stage theater that satisfies the criteria of subsection 2, paragraph A, 
subparagraph (2), in an amount determined by the commissioner, proportional to the 
size of the venue and its workforce, not to exceed $500,000; and
C.  Operates a music theater that satisfies the criteria of subsection 2, paragraph A, 
subparagraph (3), in an amount determined by the commissioner, proportional to the 
size of the venue and its workforce, not to exceed $500,000.
A person who receives a grant under this section shall use the grant solely for the purpose 
of paying the operating expenses of the movie theater, stage theater or music venue for 
which the grant was awarded.
4.  Rulemaking.  Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as 
defined in chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
SUMMARY
This bill creates a fund for the purpose of providing grants to film and stage theaters 
and music venues that have suffered economically due to restrictions placed on their 
operation during the COVID-19 pandemic.