COLUMBUS — The Ohio House of Representatives today passed House Bill 521 to reauthorize and increase funding for the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit.

House Bill 521 increases the maximum total amount of tax credits allowed for completion of motion pictures certified as tax credit-eligible productions from $20 million to $40 million per fiscal biennium.

House Bill 521 passed by a vote of 94-3 and will now be sent to the Ohio Senate for further consideration

Because Ohio is one of 38 states that offer tax credits for motion pictures produced within the state, doubling the amount of tax credits would make Ohio more competitive with other states and help attract additional revenue.

Cleveland was one the state’s main beneficiaries of the filming by the movie industry last year.

The Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit was established in 2009 and has helped attract 27 film productions since its inception, including “TheAvengers,” “The Ides of March,” “I, Alex Cross” and “Unstoppable.”

In 2010, more than 8,250 people were employed in primary and secondary film occupations in Ohio, with the industry accounting for $113 million in output.

An April 2012 report by Cleveland State University’s Center for Economic Development found that the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit created more than 9,000 Ohio jobs, spending $19.5 million on wages, and $53.6 million on support services in the state.

For each dollar the state invested in the tax credit, $1.20 was returned to the Ohio economy.

This same study also found that occupations in the film industry pay higher wages than the average Ohioan typically earns, with film industry jobs paying $43,535 annually and Ohio industries paying an average of $40,890.

House Bill 521 passed by a vote of 94-3 and will now be sent to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.

“I am pleased the House of Representatives has passed this bipartisan jobs legislation,” said Representative Mike Dovilla (R-Berea), who sponsored the legislation. “Expanding the successful film tax credit program means more economic development, more jobs, and more opportunity for our state’s economy to grow and prosper.”

BEREA - State Rep. Mike Dovilla, R-18, introduced legislation changing license requirements for drivers from out of state who move or return to Ohio.

Dovilla testified last week before the House Transportation, Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee in support of House Bill 269.

Ohio requires any new or returning resident who has a valid driver’s license from another state, including those born, raised and who learned to drive in Ohio, to pass vision screening and a written examination in order to receive an Ohio driver’s license. A majority of states requires a new resident to pass only a vision test.

“House Bill 269 is common sense legislation,” he said. “Many young adults who graduate from our distinguished institutions of higher education, such as Baldwin-Wallace College, attend graduate school or find out-of-state employment with plans later to return home to the Buckeye State. As Ohio’s economy continues to recover and we build on the 82,000 jobs created and retained through businesses relocating, expanding and remaining in our state in 2011, we should be doing everything possible to welcome new and returning residents — not burdening them with unnecessary red tape at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.”The legislation would remove the written examination requirement for those exchanging a valid, out-of-state driver’s license for an Ohio driver’s license. This bill is in the committee for more hearings.

Rep. Mike Dovilla is campaigning to expand Ohio’s stake in the motion picture landscape.

“Now is not the time to be telling the film industry that Ohio is not open for business,” he said. “Now is the time that we step up to the plate and demonstrate that we are committed to fostering an environment which will sustain this industry and the myriad economic sectors that support it.”

Dovilla, R-Berea, is the sponsor of House Bill 521, a measure to reauthorize and increase funding for the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit to $20 million per year.

“The Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit has a proven record of success for the Greater Cleveland area and other Ohio cities by bringing productions to our state,” he said.

During testimony for the bill last week before the House Ways and Means committee, Dovilla highlighted three examples of success during recent film production in Northeast Ohio.

He said a local Fast Signs franchise experienced a $40,000 increase in revenue that led to nine staff members working overtime.

“Michael Symon’s restaurants realized about $15,000 in increased revenue concentrated at Lola (in Cleveland) and occasionally kept their doors open after hours to accommodate actors and production crews,” Dovilla said, adding that Teamsters called more than 100 members who were on unemployment back to work.

“One member was even able to save his house from foreclosure because of the new work.”

Under current state law, a film company that produces at least part of a motion picture in Ohio is allowed to receive a certificate from the Ohio Department of Development entitling the company to refundable credits against the corporation franchise tax or personal income tax.

The credit amount is tagged at 25 percent of goods and service and 35 percent of the payroll of Ohio resident cost and crew.

In the three years following the tax credit’s inception, all feature films shot in Ohio have taken advantage of the filming credit including The Avengers, which initially was slated to be shot in Detroit.

Marvel Studios, the makers of The Avengers,  pegged the tax credit as one of the reasons for filming the production in Ohio.

Dovilla referenced a recent report by Cleveland State University that found previous projects receiving the tax credit created more than 9,000 jobs and spent more than $19.5 million on wages and $53.6 million on support services in the state.

“More jobs, more economic development and more working families earning a living wage. As depicted on our state seal, the sun is starting to rise again in Ohio,” he said. “Expanding proven, common-sense initiatives like the film tax credit will continue to ensure Ohio’s place on a path to prosperity.”

A bill analysis of HB 521 states that beginning with the fiscal year 2012-2013 biennium, the overall tax credit limit would be increased to $40 million per fiscal biennium and requires that the development director authorize no more than $20 million in the first year of a fiscal biennium.

Continuing law limits film companies to no more than $5 million in credits for each eligible production.

Ivan Schwarz, executive director of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission, urged lawmakers to get HB 521 to the governor’s desk.

“Renewing the motion picture tax credit is a critical step in building a strong statewide film industry,” he said.

“We have proven that Ohio is an extremely desirable place for filmmakers to create content. Now we need to take it to the next level by establishing a year-round industry and building permanent infrastructure.”

Schwarz said enacting the bill would encourage Ohio businesses to grow and attract new companies to the state.

“It will keep young people from leaving the state seeking employment elsewhere and attract new people to move here to work in this new industry,” he said. “Simply put, HB 521 will create jobs and promote economic development across the entire state.”

Kristen Erwin, executive director of the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Film Commission, also has pushed for the bill’s passage.

“Growing Ohio’s film industry is about supporting small businesses and infrastructure, as well as attracting worthwhile projects,” she said.

“Film projects will go where the incentives are and we need to keep Ohio competitive on a regional and national scale in order to continue to create jobs through our film industry.”

HB 521 has gained bipartisan support from Reps. Mike Duffey, R-Worthington, Bill Patmon, D-Cleveland, Robert Sprague, R-Findlay, Timothy Derickson, R-Springboro, Terry Johnson, R-McDermott, Cheryl Grossman, R-Grove City, Ron Young, R-Leroy, Joseph Uecker, R-Loveland, Nan Baker, R-Westlake, and Connie Pillich, D-Cincinnati.

“Our bipartisan legislation to expand this program shows our ongoing commitment to creating an environment in which an Ohio film industry can flourish, create jobs and generate new and better opportunities for the residents of our state to prosper,” Dovilla said.

The bill is scheduled for a third hearing Wednesday.