SECTION 1.  Chapter 6 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after Section 38, the following section:-

Section 38B. (a) (a)  (a) Biennially, on or before March 31, the governor may appoint an architect  laureate for the commonwealth of Massachusetts from a list of  3 nominees submitted by the architect laureate nominating committee pursuant to subsection (b). The architect laureate shall be an advocate for the physical, historic and aesthetic nature of the state house and seek to raise the consciousness of all people to a greater appreciation of the architecture and architectural history of the state house and other architecturally significant public buildings in the commonwealth. The architect laureate shall be appointed to serve for a term of 2 years or until a successor is appointed and qualified as provided in this section. In the event of a vacancy in the office of architect laureate, the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

(b) The nominating committee shall consist of the following 5 members or their designees, 1 of whom shall be a member of the senate appointed by the senate president, 1 of whom shall be  a member of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house, and 3 of whom shall be appointed by the governor. The members of the nominating committee shall serve without compensation and shall elect from their number a member who shall serve as chair.

(c) The nominating committee shall request and receive 5 nominations for the selection of the architect laureate for the commonwealth of Massachusetts from the Massachusetts chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Nominees shall be residents of the commonwealth and shall provide biographical and professional information, as well as supporting representative material, explaining why, based on their architectural accomplishments, they deserve recognition as the architect laureate for commonwealth of Massachusetts. The nominating committee shall review all nominations and select 3 nominees to submit along with supporting representative material, to the governor biennially on or before February 1.

(d) The architect laureate shall be an honorary position and the person appointed shall receive no remuneration and shall not be considered a state official or state employee for such person’s service as the architect laureate.