II 111th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1241 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 11, 2009 Mr. Inhofe (for himself and Mr. Tester) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To amend Public Law 106–206 to direct the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to require annual permits and assess annual fees for commercial filming activities on Federal land for film crews of 5 persons or fewer.
1.
Purpose
The purpose of this Act is to provide commercial film crews of 5 persons or fewer access to film in areas designated for public use during public hours on Federal lands and waterways.
2.
Annual Permit and Fee for Film Crews of 5 persons or fewer
(a)
In General
Section (1)(a) of Public Law 106–206 (16 U.S.C. 460l–6d) is amended by— (1)redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) as subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), respectively; (2)striking The Secretary of the Interior and inserting (1) In General.—Except as provided by paragraph (3), the Secretary of the Interior; (3)inserting (2) Other considerations.— before The Secretary may include other factors; and (4)adding at the end the following new paragraph: (3)
Special rules for film crews of 5 persons or fewer
(A)For any film crew of 5 persons or fewer, the Secretary shall require a permit and assess an annual fee of $200 for commercial filming activities or similar projects on Federal lands and waterways administered by the Secretary. The permit shall be valid for commercial filming activities or similar projects that occur in areas designated for public use during public hours on all Federal lands and waterways administered by the Secretary for a 12-month period beginning on the date of issuance of the permit. (B)For persons holding a permit described in this paragraph, the Secretary shall not assess, during the effective period of the permit, any additional fee for commercial filming activities and similar projects that occur in areas designated for public use during public hours on Federal lands and waterways administered by the Secretary. (C)In this paragraph, the term film crew includes all persons present on Federal land under the Secretary’s jurisdiction who are associated with the production of a certain film. (D)The Secretary shall not prohibit, as a mechanized apparatus or under any other purposes, use of cameras or related equipment used for the purpose of commercial filming activities or similar projects in accordance with this paragraph on Federal lands and waterways administered by the Secretary. . (b)
Recovery of Costs
Section (1)(b) of Public Law 106–206 (16 U.S.C. 460l–6d) is amended by— (1)striking collect any costs and inserting recover any costs; and (2)striking similar project and inserting similar projects.