Rick Karlin reports in the Albany Times Union a bill to give $420 million in tax credits for television shows shot in New York to hire minorities or women as directors and writers may go to the governor's desk soon for a signature. The legislature passed the TV Diversity Tax Credit bill earlier this year, with incentives for hiring minorities and women in television writing and directing jobs. The legislature would have to send the bill to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office and get his signature by the end of the year to become law. TV production firms could get up to $50,000 in tax credits for a minority or female director or writer on each episode of a show or production, with no more than $150,000 per individual. “As the country reacts to news of widespread sexual harassment in Hollywood, it is especially important that New York state support women and minorities in the television industry,” said Sen. Marisol Alcantara. “In the 2015-2016 television season, only 17 percent of television episodes made were directed by women, and only 19 percent were directed by ethnic minorities.” But Carol Kellerman, president of the Citizens Budget Commission, says the existing film tax credit began as a $25 million-a-year program and is now, a “$420 million behemoth.” John Kaehny, executive director of Reinvent Albany, said, “We believe that the film and TV production credit is already far too large and that it is a mistake to add another, politically attractive but fiscally dubious branch to it.” Read the full story in the Albany Times Union.