As Introduced

130th General Assembly
Regular Session
2013-2014
S. B. No. 84


Senator Kearney 

Cosponsors: Senators Smith, Turner, Obhof 



A BILL
To amend section 3379.03 and to enact section 3379.12 1
of the Revised Code to create the position of Ohio 2
Poet Laureate.3


BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

       Section 1. That section 3379.03 be amended and section 4
3379.12 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:5

       Sec. 3379.03.  The Ohio arts council shall:6

       (A) Conduct a survey of the cultural and artistic resources 7
and needs of the state and maintain a continuing inventory of such 8
resources;9

       (B) Develop a plan for better and fuller use and enjoyment of 10
the state's cultural and artistic resources by all the people of 11
the state;12

       (C) Assess the role of the arts in the growth and development 13
of the state;14

       (D) Report at least biennially to the governor and the 15
general assembly on the state of the arts. Such report may include 16
recommendations based on the council's surveys.17

       (E) Administer the per cent for arts program pursuant to 18
section 3379.10 of the Revised Code;19

       (F) Establish guidelines for the nomination of and for the 20
administration of the council's duties that pertain to the 21
position of Ohio poet laureate pursuant to section 3379.12 of the 22
Revised Code.23

       Sec. 3379.12. (A) The position of Ohio poet laureate is 24
hereby created and shall be administered by the Ohio arts council.25

        (B) The duties of the Ohio poet laureate shall consist of the 26
following:27

        (1) Provide a minimum of four annual public readings;28

        (2) Provide to the public access to at least one reading 29
during each term of office;30

        (3) In coordination with the Ohio arts council, establish 31
programs to promote awareness of the literary arts and encourage 32
citizens to develop their own creative interests.33

        (C)(1) The term of office for the Ohio poet laureate shall be 34
four years. An individual may be reappointed to subsequent terms 35
of office.36

       (2) Not later than December 31, 2013, and the thirty-first 37
day of December every four years thereafter, an organization or 38
individual that wishes to nominate an individual for the position 39
of Ohio poet laureate shall submit a nomination to the Ohio arts 40
council. An individual shall not self-nominate for the position.41

        (3) Not later than July 1, 2014, and the thirty-first day of 42
July every four years thereafter, the governor shall select the 43
Ohio poet laureate from the list of nominees provided under 44
division (C)(1) of this section.45

        (D) To qualify for the position of Ohio poet laureate, an 46
individual shall satisfy the following conditions:47

        (1) The individual shall be a current resident of Ohio, with 48
at least ten concurrent years of residency.49

        (2) The individual shall have the ability to travel 50
throughout the state.51

        (3) The individual shall have a proven history in poetry that 52
includes works published in books, anthologies, literary journals, 53
or magazines, including at least one work that is not 54
self-published or by a vanity press.55

        (4) The individual shall demonstrate an active presence in 56
the state's literary community through such areas as reading, 57
publications, public presentations, or teaching.58

        (5) The individual shall demonstrate critical acclaim through 59
special honors, awards, or other recognition.60

        (E) In the event of the death, resignation, or any other 61
vacancy or inability to perform the duties of Ohio poet laureate 62
during the individual's unexpired term of office, the Ohio arts 63
council shall request nominations to fill the position. Within 64
ninety days of issuing the request, the governor shall select from 65
the list the Ohio poet laureate to serve the remainder of that 66
unexpired term of office.67

       Section 2. That existing section 3379.03 of the Revised Code 68
is hereby repealed.69