The Florida Senate

288.1251  Promotion and development of entertainment industry; Office of the Film Commissioner; creation; purpose; powers and duties.--

(1)  CREATION.--

(a)  There is hereby created within the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development the Office of the Film Commissioner for the purpose of developing, marketing, promoting, and providing services to the state's entertainment industry.

(b)  The Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development shall conduct a national search for a qualified person to fill the position of Film Commissioner, and the Executive Director of the Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development shall hire the Film Commissioner. Guidelines for selection of the Film Commissioner shall include, but not be limited to, the Film Commissioner having the following:

1.  A working knowledge of the equipment, personnel, financial, and day-to-day production operations of the industries to be served by the office;

2.  Marketing and promotion experience related to the industries to be served by the office;

3.  Experience working with a variety of individuals representing large and small entertainment-related businesses, industry associations, local community entertainment industry liaisons, and labor organizations; and

4.  Experience working with a variety of state and local governmental agencies.

(2)  POWERS AND DUTIES.--

(a)  The Office of the Film Commissioner, in performance of its duties, shall:

1.  In consultation with the Florida Film Advisory Council, develop and implement a 5-year strategic plan to guide the activities of the Office of the Film Commissioner in the areas of entertainment industry development, marketing, promotion, liaison services, field office administration, and information. The plan, to be developed by no later than June 30, 2000, shall:

a.  Be annual in construction and ongoing in nature.

b.  Include recommendations relating to the organizational structure of the office.

c.  Include an annual budget projection for the office for each year of the plan.

d.  Include an operational model for the office to use in implementing programs for rural and urban areas designed to:

(I)  Develop and promote the state's entertainment industry.

(II)  Have the office serve as a liaison between the entertainment industry and other state and local governmental agencies, local film commissions, and labor organizations.

(III)  Gather statistical information related to the state's entertainment industry.

(IV)  Provide information and service to businesses, communities, organizations, and individuals engaged in entertainment industry activities.

(V)  Administer field offices outside the state and coordinate with regional offices maintained by counties and regions of the state, as described in sub-sub-subparagraph (II), as necessary.

e.  Include performance standards and measurable outcomes for the programs to be implemented by the office.

f.  Include an assessment of, and make recommendations on, the feasibility of creating an alternative public-private partnership for the purpose of contracting with such a partnership for the administration of the state's entertainment industry promotion, development, marketing, and service programs.

2.  Develop, market, and facilitate a smooth working relationship between state agencies and local governments in cooperation with local film commission offices for out-of-state and indigenous entertainment industry production entities.

3.  Implement a structured methodology prescribed for coordinating activities of local offices with each other and the commissioner's office.

4.  Represent the state's indigenous entertainment industry to key decisionmakers within the national and international entertainment industry, and to state and local officials.

5.  Prepare an inventory and analysis of the state's entertainment industry, including, but not limited to, information on crew, related businesses, support services, job creation, talent, and economic impact and coordinate with local offices to develop an information tool for common use.

6.  Represent key decisionmakers within the national and international entertainment industry to the indigenous entertainment industry and to state and local officials.

7.  Serve as liaison between entertainment industry producers and labor organizations.

8.  Identify, solicit, and recruit entertainment production opportunities for the state.

9.  Assist rural communities and other small communities in the state in developing the expertise and capacity necessary for such communities to develop, market, promote, and provide services to the state's entertainment industry.

(b)  The Office of the Film Commissioner, in the performance of its duties, may:

1.  Conduct or contract for specific promotion and marketing functions, including, but not limited to, production of a statewide directory, production and maintenance of an Internet web site, establishment and maintenance of a toll-free number, organization of trade show participation, and appropriate cooperative marketing opportunities.

2.  Conduct its affairs, carry on its operations, establish offices, and exercise the powers granted by this act in any state, territory, district, or possession of the United States.

3.  Carry out any program of information, special events, or publicity designed to attract entertainment industry to Florida.

4.  Develop relationships and leverage resources with other public and private organizations or groups in their efforts to publicize to the entertainment industry in this state, other states, and other countries the depth of Florida's entertainment industry talent, crew, production companies, production equipment resources, related businesses, and support services, including the establishment of and expenditure for a program of cooperative advertising with these public and private organizations and groups in accordance with the provisions of chapter 120.

5.  Provide and arrange for reasonable and necessary promotional items and services for such persons as the office deems proper in connection with the performance of the promotional and other duties of the office.

6.  Prepare an annual economic impact analysis on entertainment industry-related activities in the state.

History.--s. 3, ch. 99-251.