A state Senate committee struggled Monday with the definition of pornography while debating legislation to restrict the use of state tax credits for certain productions.
“You’ll know it when you see it,” state Sen. A.G. Crowe said of what he is targeting in his legislation.
The committee eventually voted without objection to advance the proposal.
Crowe’s Senate Bill 513 would prohibit the state Department of Economic Development and the Office of Entertainment Industry Development from approving tax credits for film projects that must file documentation with the federal government because they involve “sexually explicit conduct.”
The federal record keeping is designed to ensure that children are not participating in pornographic productions.
Among other things, production companies have to collect performers’ dates of birth and correct names.
SB513 simply characterizes the targeted productions as pornographic. Language also referring to the productions as obscene was removed.
State Sen. Ed Murray, D-New Orleans, asked Crowe if his legislation defines pornographic.
Crowe, R-Slidell, said it does not. “Pornographic is a floating target in terms of determination,” Crowe said.
Murray said he did not see how the state could police something that is not defined.
The motion picture tax incentives are making Louisiana a popular place to shoot films.
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