SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2382        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2196

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Rebecca L. Rausch

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act establishing a choreographer laureate of the commonwealth.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2382        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2196

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act establishing a choreographer laureate of the commonwealth.

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

Chapter 2 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting the following new section:- 

Section 64. (a) The governor may appoint a resident of the commonwealth to serve as choreographer laureate of the commonwealth, selected from a list of nominees submitted by the choreographer laureate nominating committee established in this section. The choreographer laureate shall seek to encourage participation in the arts, elevate the dance legacy and current dance communities in the commonwealth, and choreograph performances for important state events and ceremonies. The choreographer laureate shall be appointed to serve for a term of 4 years and may be reappointed for a second term. A choreographer laureate vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

(b) (i) There shall be a choreographer laureate nominating committee consisting of the following 5 members: the executive director of the Massachusetts cultural council, or their designee, who shall serve as chair; the executive and artistic director of Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Inc., or their designee; the executive artistic director of The Dance Complex, or their designee; the president of New England Presenters, or their designee; and a member of the Boston Ballet company, selected by the chair. Nominating committee members shall serve without compensation.

(ii) Not less than 5 months prior to the expiration of the then-current choreographer laureate’s tenure, the nominating committee shall conduct culturally competent and linguistically diverse public outreach and receive nominations of potential candidates for selection as choreographer laureate. Self-nominations and nominations from members of the nominating committee shall be permitted. Nominees shall be residents of the commonwealth who are presently or were previously engaged in the art of choreography and who has produced a body of choreographic work. Nominations shall include biographical and professional information about the nominee. 

(iii) The nominating committee shall review all nominations and select 3 nominees based on their overall excellence and demonstrated commitment to the arts in the commonwealth. Nominees should represent the commonwealth’s diverse dance community. The nominating committee shall submit the 3 nominees to the governor not less than 4 weeks prior to the expiration of the then-current choreographer laureate’s tenure, or as soon as possible in the event of a vacancy.

(c) (i) The choreographer laureate shall be an honorary position and the person appointed shall receive no remuneration from the commonwealth. The person appointed to the position of choreographer laureate shall not be considered a state official or a state employee for such person’s service in the position.

(ii) The choreographer laureate shall be entitled to reimbursement for expenses incurred in the performance of duties as choreographer laureate, not exceeding $1,000 per fiscal year of the commonwealth.

(iii) Dancers and support staff selected by the choreographer laureate for performances at important state events and ceremonies, consistent with the provisions of paragraph (a) of this section, shall be entitled to market value compensation.