Bill Text: MA H3146 | 2009-2010 | 186th General Court | Introduced
Bill Title: Provide for the appointment of a poet laureate of the Commonwealth
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2009-10-15 - Committee recommended ought to pass and referred to the House Committee On Ways and Means [H3146 Detail]
Download: Massachusetts-2009-H3146-Introduced.html
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
PRESENTED BY:
Sarah K. Peake
_______________
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 passage of the accompanying bill:
An Act to create the position of poet laureate for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
_______________
PETITION OF:
|
Name: |
District/Address: |
|
Sarah K. Peake |
4th Barnstable |
|
Katherine Clark |
32nd Middlesex |
|
Christine E. Canavan |
10th Plymouth |
|
Denise Provost |
27th Middlesex |
|
Timothy Madden |
Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket |
|
Tom Sannicandro |
7th Middlesex |
|
Robert A. O'Leary |
Cape and Islands |
|
Cory Atkins |
14th Middlesex |
|
Sean Garballey |
23rd Middlesex |
|
Kay Khan |
11th Middlesex |
The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts
_______________
In the Year Two Thousand and Nine
_______________
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.
