HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 472        FILED ON: 1/12/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3146

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act to create the position of poet laureate for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1.  Chapter 6 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding, after section 5, the following new section:

Section 5A. 

(a) The governor may select a poet laureate for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts from the list of nominees submitted to him or her by the Commonwealth Poet Laureate Nominating Committee pursuant to Section 5A (b) herein.  The poet laureate shall be appointed to serve for a term of two years or until a successor is appointed and qualified as provided in this section.

(b) (1) There shall be a Poet Laureate Nominating Committee. The Poet Laureate Nominating Committee shall consist of five (5) members: one (1) member of the Senate, one (1) member of the House, one (1) member appointed by the Governor, and two (2) members of the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Poet Laureate Nominating Committee shall serve without compensation.

(2)The Poet Laureate Nominating Committee shall advertise for and receive nominations for the selection of the Poet Laureate for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  The Poet Laureate Nominating Committee shall review all nominations and select a list of three (3) nominees who are residents of the Commonwealth, to submit to the Governor along with their biographical and professional information and supporting representative material and who, based on their poetic accomplishments, deserve recognition as the Poet Laureate for the Commonwealth.  The Governor may select the Poet Laureate for the Commonwealth from the list of nominees for a two year term of office.

(c) In the event of a vacancy in the office of Poet Laureate for the Commonwealth, the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment, and the person so appointed shall serve until a successor is appointed and qualified as provided in this section.

(d) The Poet Laureate for the Commonwealth during his or her term shall seek to raise the consciousness of all people, including, but not limited to school children to a greater appreciation of the reading and writing of poetry, and

(e) The poet laureate shall be an honorary position and the person appointed shall receive no remuneration.  The person appointed to the position of poet laureate shall not be considered a state official or a state employee for such person's service in the position of poet laureate.