2023 District of Columbia Code › Title 2 - Government Administration › Chapter 12 - Business and Economic Development › Subchapter II-A - Film and Television Industry Development › Part B - Entertainment Economic Incentives and Rebates › § 2–1204.11a. Production incentives

§ 2–1204.11a. Production incentives.
(a) To qualify for a payment under § 2-1204.11(b), an eligible production company shall:
(1) Spend at least $250,000 in the District for the preproduction, production, or postproduction costs of a qualified production;
(2) File an application with the Mayor pursuant to subsection (b) of this section;
(3) Enter into a rebate agreement with the Mayor pursuant to subsection (d) of this section;
(4) Comply with the terms of the agreement;
(5) Not be delinquent in a tax or other obligation owed to the District or be owned or under common control of an entity that is delinquent in a tax or other obligation owed to the District; and
(6) Agree to contain a 5-second long “Filmed in the District of Columbia” credit and logo provided by the Mayor in the final production and a link to the District of Columbia on the project’s web page, or an alternative recognition agreed upon by the Mayor that offers equal or greater promotional value to the District.
(b) An eligible production company seeking a payment under § 2-1204.11(b) shall submit an application to the Mayor. The application shall be submitted in a form, and with such documentation and information, may be prescribed by the Mayor, including:
(1) An estimate of qualified production expenditures;
(2) An estimate of qualified personnel expenditures;
(3) An estimate of qualified job training expenditures; and
(4) An estimate of direct District expenditures.
(c) After receiving an application under subsection (b) of this section, the Mayor shall review the application and determine whether to enter into a rebate agreement pursuant to subsection (d) of this section with the eligible production company. In determining whether to enter into a rebate agreement with the eligible production company, the Mayor may consider:
(1) The potential that, in the absence of a payment under § 2-1204.11b(a), the qualified production will be produced in a location other than the District;
(2)(A) The qualified production is likely to promote the District as a tourist destination;
(B) The qualified production is likely to create contracting and procurement opportunities for certified business enterprises;
(C) The qualified production is likely to:
(i) Create jobs;
(ii) Job training opportunities; and
(iii) Apprenticeships for District residents;
(D) The qualified production will produce employment opportunities for District youth;
(E) The qualified production is likely to promote economic development and neighborhood revitalization in the District;
(F) A payment under § 2-1204.11b(a) is likely to attract private investment for the production of other qualified productions or base infrastructure investments in the District; and
(3) The record of the eligible production company in completing commitments to engage in a qualified production.
(d) A rebate agreement entered into by the Mayor and the eligible production company shall include the following provisions:
(1) The name of the eligible production company;
(2) The name and description of the qualified production;
(3) The eligible production company’s:
(A) Estimated qualified production expenditures;
(B) Estimated qualified personnel expenditures;
(C) Estimated qualified job training expenditures; and
(D) Estimated direct District expenditures.
(4) A preliminary estimate of the payment to be made by the District pursuant to the agreement;
(5) Any obligations of the eligible production company, including obligations such a commitment to hire District residents, provide apprenticeship opportunities for District residents and youth, provide employment opportunities for District residents and youth, and to contract with certified business entities; and
(6) Any other provisions considered appropriate by the Mayor.
(e) If the Mayor determines that an eligible production company, after it completes the qualified production, has complied with the terms of the agreement entered into under this section, the Mayor shall provide to the company the payment authorized by § 2-1204.11(b).
(f) The Mayor shall reserve funds sufficient to pay the amount identified in subsection (d)(4) of this section.
(Mar. 14, 2007, D.C. Law 16-290, § 2a; as added Mar. 3, 2010, D.C. Law 18-111, § 2071(b), 57 DCR 181; Mar. 9, 2016, D.C. Law 21-81, § 2(b), 63 DCR 768; Sept. 11, 2019, D.C. Law 23-16, § 2033(b), 66 DCR 8621.)
Prior Codifications
2001 Ed., § 39-501.01.
Section References
This section is referenced in § 2-1204.11.
Effect of Amendments
The 2016 amendment by D.C. Law 21-81 deleted “development” preceding “preproduction” in (a)(1); substituted “rebate agreement” for “incentive agreement” in (a)(3); added (a)(6) and made related changes; substituted “rebate agreement” for “incentive agreement” twice in (c) and in (d).
Emergency Legislation
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2033(b) of Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2019 (D.C. Act 23-112, Sept. 4, 2019, 66 DCR 11964).
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 2033(b) of Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2019 (D.C. Act 23-91, July 22, 2019, 66 DCR 8497).
For temporary (90 day) addition, see § 2071(b) of Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Support Second Emergency Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-207, October 15, 2009, 56 DCR 8234).
For temporary (90 day) addition, see § 2071(b) of Fiscal Year Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-260, January 4, 2010, 57 DCR 345).