[May 25, 2013] Oklahoma state Capitol briefs, May 25 Tweet May 25, 2013 (The Oklahoman - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Film rebates could end Failure by the House on Friday to approve the state's film rebate program means the program is scheduled to expire next year. Senate Bill 1126 failed to get the minimum 51 votes for passage Thursday night; the House voted 45-44 for the measure. The House on Friday voted 45-38 to reject an attempt by Rep. Earl Sears, the bill's House sponsor, to bring it up for reconsideration. The film rebate program is scheduled to expire July 1, 2014. The program will received $5 million for the upcoming fiscal year, which starts July 1. But Jill Simpson, director of the Oklahoma Film and Music Office, said that money is already committed. She said if the rebate for films goes away it will take with it a growing interest by television and movie producers and directors. Oklahoma's return on investment in film incentives is 3-to-1, she said. SB 1126 would have increased the state appropriation to the film rebate program to $8 million and would have extended the program for another 10 years. It also would have reduced the share the film office may give to one project from 35 percent to 25 percent. Sears, R-Bartlesville, said he will introduce a measure next year to extend the film rebate program but likely would keep the funding at $5 million. Water board bill advances The House on Friday approved Senate Bill 965, which would change the makeup of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board by shifting from membership based largely on population to membership based on water planning regions. The House voted 52-31 to pass SB 965, which now goes to the governor. The governor appoints members of the Water Resources Board. SB 965 would, over a six-year period, replace five members appointed from the five congressional districts and four members appointed at-large with nine members -- one from each of the nine planning regions in Oklahoma's 1995 Comprehensive Water Plan. Storm shelter bill eyed A lawmaker's proposal this week a $500 million bond issue to pay for storm shelters in public schools didn't develop into legislation. Rep. Joe Dorman, D-Rush Springs, said he is optimistic that House Speaker T.W. Shannon, R-Lawton, will approve his request for an interim study this year. The legislative session ended Friday. Dorman was working on legislation that would provide $400 million of the bond issue to pay for storm shelters in public schools. The remaining $100 million would fund a program to assist homeowners and group home facilities with building storm shelters. Dorman came up with the suggested legislation after tornadoes this week struck several communities and killed 26 people. The victims included several children who died in a Moore public school. MICHAEL MCNUTT, CAPITOL BUREAU ___ (c)2013 The Oklahoman Visit The Oklahoman at www.newsok.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]