SRC-BWC S.B. 1043 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 1043 By: Duncan Administration 6/18/2001 Enrolled DIGEST AND PURPOSE The first Texas State Poet Laureate was selected in February 1932, but since that time there have only been 37 poets laureate. Recognizing artists by bestowing on them titles of honor is a long-standing practice and serves as an encouragement to other talented artists. Traditionally, a committee of the Texas Legislature has elected the Texas State Artist, appropriately honoring those Texans who have exhibited exceptional ability in portraying the beauty of this state, some facet of its history, or the proud spirit of its people. S.B. 1043 creates a special committee to designate Texas State Artists in two categories of art to serve concurrently a term of one year. One of the state artists selected each year will be chosen on the basis of achievements in two-dimensional media and the other on the basis of achievements in three-dimensional media. This bill also requires the committee to designate a poet laureate of Texas and a Texas state musician. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Title 106, Revised Statutes, by adding Article 6139k, as follows: Art. 6139k. New heading: POET LAUREATE, STATE MUSICIAN, AND STATE ARTISTS Sec. 1. New heading: DESIGNATING A POET LAUREATE, A STATE MUSICIAN, AND STATE ARTISTS. Requires the Texas poet laureate, state musician, and state artist committee (committee) to designate a poet laureate of Texas, a Texas state musician, a Texas state artist for two-dimensional media, and a Texas state artist for three-dimensional media. Requires the committee to choose the poet laureate, state musician, and the state artists from a list of individuals submitted by the Texas Commission on the Arts (commission). Provides that the individuals designated as the poet laureate, the state musician, and the state artists may not receive any pay or emolument but are allowed to keep the designation for one year from the date of the designation ceremony. Sec. 2. New heading: TEXAS POET LAUREATE, STATE MUSICIAN, AND STATE ARTIST COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED. Provides that the committee consists of seven specific members appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives. Requires one member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives to be the chair of the house committee that has primary jurisdiction of arts and cultural matters who serves on the committee as an additional duty of the chairmanship. Provides that members of the committee who are not members of the legislature serve for a two-year term that expires October 1 of each odd-numbered year. Requires the members of the committee to select a presiding officer from the members of the committee. Sec. 3. RECOMMENDATIONS FROM TEXAS COMMISSION ON THE ARTS. Requires the commission to solicit nominations from the arts and cultural community for both the poet laureate, state musician, and the state artists. Authorizes the commission to use the commission's Texas Cultural & Arts Network, the media, public meetings, newsletters, and the Writer's League of Texas, and other appropriate methods to distribute information about the nomination process. Authorizes the commission to receive submissions from poets, musicians, and artists who have been nominated. Authorizes the commission to assemble a group of artists, writers, scholars, and other appropriate experts in the field of visual arts, music, and literature to: review the submissions from the nominated poets, musicians, and artists and provide advice and recommendations to the commission on who should be considered for designation as poet laureate, as state musician, and as a state artist. Requires the commission to submit to the Texas poet Laureate, state musician, and state artist committee a list of not more than 10 individuals for each of the four categories. Sec. 4. DESIGNATION CEREMONY. Requires the governor and members of the committee to honor the individuals designated as poet laureate, as state musician, and as a state artist in a ceremony at the State Capitol. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2001. (b) Requires, as soon as possible after the effective date of this Act, the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives to appoint the initial members of the Texas poet laureate, state musician, and state artist committee.