Nebraska Revised Statutes Chapter 81. State Administrative Departments § 81-1220. Nebraska Film Office Fund; created; use; investment; grant programs authorized; application; requirements

(1)(a) The Nebraska Film Office Fund is created. The fund shall be administered by the Department of Economic Development and used for grants for Nebraska-based films, Nebraska filmmakers, and tribal communities in Nebraska as provided in this section.

(b) The fund shall consist of funds transferred by the Legislature, gifts, grants, and bequests.

(c) Any money in the Nebraska Film Office Fund available for investment shall be invested by the state investment officer pursuant to the Nebraska Capital Expansion Act and the Nebraska State Funds Investment Act.

(2)(a) The department shall administer a grant program for Nebraska-based films and shall require applications to be submitted to the department prior to beginning production.

(b) To be eligible for a grant under the program, the applicant shall verify that:

(c) The department may lower the fifty-percent requirement in subdivision (b)(iii) of this subsection but shall not waive the requirement. The applicant shall apply to the department to lower the requirement and provide a certification that the requirement is an unreasonable impediment to production of the film. The department shall notify the applicant of the decision under this subdivision.

(d) The department shall review each application to determine whether the film qualifies for a grant under this subsection and shall not award a grant that exceeds twenty-five percent of the projected production cost of the film.

(3)(a) The department shall administer a grant program for Nebraska filmmakers with the intention to create Nebraska film industry jobs and shall require applications to be submitted to the department prior to beginning production.

(b) To be eligible for a grant under the program, the applicant shall verify that:

(c) The department shall review each application to determine whether the film qualifies for a grant under this subsection.

(d) The department shall review applications for grants under this subsection in the order in which the applications are received.

(e) The department shall award grants under this subsection for a total of four full-length films or documentaries and ten short-length films or documentaries each calendar year.

(f) The department shall not award a grant that exceeds two hundred fifty thousand dollars for a full-length film or documentary or twenty-five thousand dollars for a short-length film or documentary.

(g) The department shall not award total grants exceeding one million three hundred twenty-five thousand dollars in any calendar year.

(h) The first grant awarded for each individual film shall not exceed:

(i) If an applicant who receives a grant under this subsection does not meet the requirements for eligibility under subdivision (b) of this subsection during the entirety of the production of the film, the applicant shall repay the entirety of the grant.

(j) For purposes of this subsection:

(4)(a) The department shall administer a grant program for film and entertainment education programs in tribal communities in Nebraska.

(b) The department shall award total grants of at least seventy-five thousand dollars each calendar year.