LANSING, MI (AP)-- Michigan is close to revising its incentives program used to entice the production of movies and TV shows in the state.
The Senate on Tuesday voted 33-4 to make changes such as requiring more Michigan residents to be hired on crews and letting TV shows get continued state aid. The bill goes to Gov. Rick Snyder for his signature.
The bill also would lift a $2 million-per-employee cap on salaries counted as expenditures that can be reimbursed by the state.
Critics call the $50-million-a year in state incentives a "boondoggle." Supporters say that the film, TV and digital media industry is important to build in Michigan.
Michigan once had some of the country's most generous film incentives. They were scaled back in 2011.
The bill would end the program in seven years unless lawmakers extend it. It's now scheduled to stop in 2017, though legislators could still stifle the program by not allocating money for it in the annual budget process.