§ 97-ff. Empire state entertainment diversity job training development
fund. 1. There is hereby established in the joint custody of the
commissioner of taxation and finance and the comptroller, a special fund
to be known as the empire state entertainment diversity job training
development fund.

2. Such fund shall consist of the funds transferred by the comptroller
to the fund from the general fund without appropriation, as determined
under subdivision (f) of section twenty-four and subdivision (e) of
section thirty-one of the tax law. Nothing contained herein shall
prevent the state from receiving grants, gifts, or bequests for the fund
and depositing them into the fund according to law.

3. Monies in the fund shall be expended only for job creation and
training programs approved by the commissioner of economic development
that support efforts to recruit, hire, promote, retain, develop and
train a diverse and inclusive workforce as production company employees
in the motion picture and television industry within the state of New
York including, but not limited to, those programs that promote
development in economically distressed areas of the state. The
commissioner of economic development shall promulgate regulations that
set forth relevant definitions, minimum standards and criteria for such
fund and eligible training programs.

4. Monies shall be payable from the fund on the audit and warrant of
the comptroller on vouchers approved and certified by the commissioner
of economic development.