Bill > H3593

This bill establishes a new position of Poet Laureate for Massachusetts, to be appointed biennially by the governor from a list of three nominees selected by a five-member nominating committee. The committee will consist of representatives from the state legislature, two members appointed by the governor, and the executive director of the Massachusetts Center for the Book. Nominees must be Massachusetts residents and will be evaluated based on their poetic accomplishments. The Poet Laureate will serve a two-year term with the primary goal of raising awareness and appreciation of poetry among Commonwealth residents, with a particular focus on school children. The position may receive financial compensation through the Massachusetts Center for the Book, which can establish an appropriate stipend and cover expenses related to the role's responsibilities, subject to available funding. This legislation formalizes the role of Poet Laureate within state government, creating an official mechanism for recognizing and promoting poetry in Massachusetts.

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https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H3593