Legislative Advocacy Sees Successes

For those who are eligible, the revised COBRA subsidy would reduce costs to $246.25 per month.

To be eligible, you must:

1. Be a resident of New York state.

Here is a roundup of some of the new and updated laws and policies in place that help protect and empower SAG-AFTRA members.

New York State Film and TV Production and Post-Production Tax Credits: In May 2022, the program was extended by three years and now runs through 2029, helping to keep work in New York and attract new work to the area (see Get Ready for the Boom on page 1). As of this article, the proposed New York state budget would extend the production and post-production credits an additional five years through 2034 and raise the annual allocation from $420 million to $700 million.

COBRA Subsidy: Thanks to our efforts and the advocacy of our SAG-AFTRA New York Local members, the program was made more accessible and more affordable by raising the income cutoff from 200% of the federal poverty level to 400%. Out-ofpocket costs to members were successfully reduced by increasing the amount of the subsidy from 50% of the COBRA cost to 75% and expanding access to the program for 12 months of coverage over five years (see sidebar)

Right of Publicity: This law protects the images and voices of SAG-AFTRA members. Thanks to an update to the law, drafted by SAG-AFTRA, it now protects deceased performers from exploitation and allows their families to prohibit unwanted and unauthorized commercial exploitation. The law now also provides strict prohibitions against the publication and dissemination of digitally created, nonconsensual, sexually explicit material, sometimes known as “deepfakes,” without clear and written approval from the performer depicted.

New York City Executive Order 21: Requires every city agency to have a liaison to the film office. This commitment to citywide coordination will support the creative industry’s $82 billion economic impact and the hundreds of thousands of jobs that come with it. This policy helps New York City continue to be one of the most production-friendly cities in the world. l

IN SHOW BUSINESS, we take care of our own. To better reflect the diverse group of arts workers it serves, The Actors Fund has changed its name to Entertainment Community Fund! The Fund is a national human services organization that addresses the unique needs of people who work in performing arts and entertainment, with services focused on health and wellness, career and life, and housing. Since 1882, the Fund has sought to ensure stability, encourage resiliency and be a safety net for those who shape our country’s cultural vibrancy. They help address the specific needs of entertainment professionals with a unique understanding of the challenges involved, and with the knowledge of what it takes to thrive in an often unpredictable industry. Learn more about how they support a life in the arts at entertainmentcommunity.org

2. Meet the monthly income requirements (see below).

3. Not have other employer coverage or Medicare.

Those eligible for a 75% discount on their COBRA rate:

Q An individual with a monthly income below $4,530.

Q A family of two with a monthly income below $6,103.

Q A family of three with a monthly income below $7,677.

Q A family of four with a monthly income below $9,250. NEED

The Entertainment Community Fund provides FREE weekly health insurance webinars, as well as FREE one-on-one counseling sessions with a health benefits specialist. Visit entertainmentcommunity.org for more information.

On Saturday, Sept. 10, members of SAG-AFTRA and the Hip-Hop Alliance marched up 5th Avenue at the 2022 New York City-Central Labor Council Labor Day Parade. It was a great opportunity for members to show their union pride. Scan the QR code for more photos from the parade >> the producer must return the performer to the pickup spot, and once they are dropped off, they are off the clock. If the wrap time is after 9:30 p.m., the producer must provide transportation to either the original pickup spot or one of three additional “safety spots”: Grand Central Terminal, Penn Station or Port Authority. The producer is only required to drop passengers off at one of those safety spots and at the production’s discretion.

Performers riding in the van may request a safety spot, but the final determination is up to the production, not the consensus of the passengers. At their discretion, the producer may stop at more than one safety spot, but everyone is considered off the clock once the van stops at the first drop-off point.

If you have further questions, please contact either our Entertainment TV or Theatrical Contract departments. l