San Francisco amends film rebate to bar rebates for productions that began before ordinance takes effect

San Francisco's Board of Supervisors on March 31 amended an ordinance that reshapes the city's film-rebate program, voting to limit the revised rebate terms to productions whose filming commences on or after the ordinance's effective date.

The amendment, proposed by Supervisor John Avalos and seconded by Supervisor Chris Daly, specifies that "rebates paid under this ordinance ... shall be paid only to those qualified film productions whose filming commenced on or after the effective date of this ordinance." The board approved the ordinance as amended on first reading; the amendment passed on a roll-call tally of 10 ayes and 1 no.

Supporters framed the measure as an economic stimulus tailored to preserve local film jobs while clarifying and capping a program that city officials said had been confusing. "This is an economic stimulus bill," said Stephanie, a representative of the city's film office, telling supervisors the changes were intended "to do an administrative fix and make the program…