SRC-BWC S.B. 1043 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1043 77R3826 MCK-DBy: Duncan Administration 3/8/2001 As Filed 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. As proposed, 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. 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. POET LAUREATE AND STATE ARTIST Sec. 1. DESIGNATING A POET LAUREATE AND STATE ARTIST. Requires the Texas poet laureate and state artist committee (committee) to designate a poet laureate of Texas and a Texas state artist. Requires the committee to choose the poet laureate and the state artist from a list of individuals submitted by the Texas Commission on the Arts (commission). Provides that the individuals designated as the poet laureate and the state artist 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. TEXAS POET LAUREATE AND STATE ARTIST COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED. Provides that the Texas poet laureate and state artist committee consists of seven specific members. Requires one member appointed by the lieutenant governor to be the chair of the senate committee that has primary jurisdiction of arts and cultural matters who serves on the committee as an additional duty of the chairmanship. 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 oddnumbered 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 and the state artist. Authorizes the commission to use the commission's Texas Cultural & Arts Network, the media, public meetings, newsletters, and the Writer's League of Texas to distribute information about the nomination process. Authorizes the commission to assemble a group of artists, writers, scholars, and other appropriate experts in the field of visual arts and literature to: review the submissions from the nominated poets and artists and provide advice and recommendations to the commission on who should be considered for designation as poet laureate and as state artist. Requires the commission to submit to the committee a list of not more than 10 individuals who are worthy of being designated as the poet laureate and a list of not more than 10 individuals who are worthy of being designated as the state artist. Sec. 4. DESIGNATION CEREMONY. Requires the governor and members of the committee to honor the individuals designated as poet laureate and as 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 and state artist committee.