HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1303        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2487

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Daniel M. Donahue

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to increasing economic development and business opportunity in the design and manufacture of video games through the use of tax credits.

_______________

PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1303        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2487

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2511 OF 2013-2014.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

_______________

An Act relative to increasing economic development and business opportunity in the design and manufacture of video games through the use of tax credits.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Section 1. Section 6 of Chapter 62 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is further amended in section (l)(1) by adding at line 428 the following two paragraphs:

"Video games" means interactive software that (a) is produced for distribution on or accessed via electronic media, including without limitation software  that may be accessed via or downloaded from the Internet or mobile networks and software that is distributed on optical media, or embedded in, or downloadable to electronic devices, including without limitation mobile phones, portable game systems and personal digital assistants (PDAs); (b) users may interact with via an electronic device, which may include without limitation a computer, a game system, a mobile phone, and a personal digital assistant (PDA), in order to achieve a goal or set of goals; and (c) include an appreciable quantity of text, sound, fixed images, animated images, and/or 3-D geometry. Permissible examples of video games are massive multiplayer online games, casual games, console games, virtual worlds, computer games, and mobile games. "Video games" shall not include products intended to facilitate gambling in any direct or indirect manner, including without limitation Internet gambling websites, video slot machines and video poker machines.

“Video game production company” means a company including its subsidiaries engaged in the business of producing video games.  The term “video game production company” shall not mean or include any company which is more than 25 per cent owned, affiliated, or controlled, by any company or person which is in default on a loan made by the Commonwealth or a loan guaranteed by the Commonwealth.  

Section 2: Section 6 of Chapter 62 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is further amended in section (l)(1) by adding at line 429 after “motion picture” the  following term:  “,  or  video games,” .

Section 3: Section 6 of Chapter 62 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is further amended in section (l)(1) by adding at line  431 after “motion picture” the  following term:  “,  or  video game,” .

Section 4: Section 6 of Chapter 62 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is further amended in section (l)(1) by adding at line  436 after “motion picture” the  following term:  “,  or video game,” .

Section 5: Section 6 of Chapter 62 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is further amended in section (l)(1) by adding at line  444 after “motion picture” the  following term:  “,  or video game,” .

Section 6: Section 6 of Chapter 62 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is further amended in section (l)(2) by adding at line  449 after “motion picture” the  following term:  “,  or video games,” .

Section 7: Section 6 of Chapter 62 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is further amended in section (l)(2) by adding at line  452 after “motion picture” the  following term:  “,  or video games,” .

Section 8: Section 6 of Chapter 62 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is further amended in section (l)(2) by adding at line  455 after “motion picture production company” the  following term:  “,  or video game production company,” .

Section 9: Section 6 of Chapter 62 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is further amended in section (l)(3) by adding at line  463 after “motion picture” the  following term:  “,  or video games,” .

Section 10: Section 6 of Chapter 62 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is further amended in section (l)(3) by adding at line  466 after “motion picture” the  following term:  “,  or video games,” .

Section 11: Section 6 of Chapter 62 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is further amended in section (5)(ii) by adding at line  491 after “motion picture” the  following term:  “,  or video games,” .

Section 12:  Section 38X as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is further amended in subsection (a) by adding at line 21 the following two paragraphs:

"Video games" means interactive software that (a) is produced for distribution on or accessed via electronic media, including without limitation software  that may be accessed via or downloaded from the Internet or mobile networks and software that is distributed on optical media, or embedded in, or downloadable to electronic devices, including without limitation mobile phones, portable game systems and personal digital assistants (PDAs); (b) users may interact with via an electronic device, which may include without limitation a computer, a game system, a mobile phone, and a personal digital assistant (PDA), in order to achieve a goal or set of goals; and (c) include an appreciable quantity of text, sound, fixed images, animated images, and/or 3-D geometry. Permissible examples of video games are massive multiplayer online games, casual games, console games, virtual worlds, computer games, and mobile games. "Video games" shall not include products intended to facilitate gambling in any direct or indirect manner, including without limitation Internet gambling websites, video slot machines and video poker machines.

“Video Game Production Company”, a company including its subsidiaries engaged in the business of producing video games.  The term “video game production company” shall not mean or include any company which is more than 25 per cent owned, affiliated, or controlled, by any company or person which is in default on a loan made by the Commonwealth or a loan guaranteed by the Commonwealth.  

Section 13:  Section 38X of Chapter 63 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is further amended in subsection (a) by adding at line 23 after “motion picture” the  following term:  “,  or video games,” .

Section 14:  Section 38X of Chapter 63 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is further amended in subsection (a) by adding at line 25 after “motion picture” the  following term:  “,  or video game,” .

Section 15:  Section 38X of Chapter 63 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is further amended in subsection (a) by adding at line 29 after “motion picture” the  following term:  “,  or video games,” .

Section 16:  Section 38X of Chapter 63 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is further amended in subsection (a) by adding at line 30 after “motion picture” the  following term:  “,  or video games,” .

Section 17:  Section 38X of Chapter 63 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is further amended in subsection (a) by adding at line 37 after “motion picture” the  following term:  “,  or video games,” .

Section 18:  Section 38X of Chapter 63 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is further amended in subsection (b) by adding at line 42 after “motion picture” the  following term:  “,  or video games,” .

Section 19:  Section 38X of Chapter 63 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is further amended in subsection (b) by adding at line 45 after “motion picture” the  following term:  “,  or video games,” .

Section 20:  Section 38X of Chapter 63 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is further amended in subsection (b) by adding at line 47 after “motion picture production company” the  following term:  “,  or video game production company,” .

Section 21:  Section 38X of Chapter 63 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is further amended in subsection (c) by adding at line 56 after “motion picture” the  following term:  “,  or video games,” .

Section 22:  Section 38X of Chapter 63 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is further amended in subsection (c) by adding at line 59 after “motion picture” the  following term:  “,  or video games,” .

Section 23:  Section 38X of Chapter 63 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2008 Official Edition, is further amended in subsection (e)(2) by adding at line 84 after “motion picture” the  following term:  “,  or video games,” .