Bill Text: OH SB84 | 2013-2014 | 130th General Assembly | Engrossed

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: To create the position of Ohio Poet Laureate and to designate June as Ohio Community Theatre Month in Ohio.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 31-20)

Status: (Passed) 2014-12-19 - Governor' Action [SB84 Detail]

Download: Ohio-2013-SB84-Engrossed.html

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As Passed by the Senate

130th General Assembly Regular Session 2013-2014

Am. S. B. No. 84

Senator Kearney 

Cosponsors: Senators Smith, Turner, Obhof, LaRose, Beagle, Brown, Burke, Cafaro, Eklund, Gentile, Hite, Lehner, Oelslager, Sawyer, Schiavoni, Tavares 

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A BILL

To amend section 3379.03 and to enact section 3379.12

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of the Revised Code to create the position of Ohio

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Poet Laureate.

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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:

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(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 in both	28
rural and urban counties;	29

(2) Provide to the public access to at least one reading	30
during each term of office;	31

(3) In coordination with the Ohio arts council, establish	32
programs to promote awareness of the literary arts and encourage	33
citizens to develop their own creative interests.	34

(C)(1) The term of office for the Ohio poet laureate shall be	35
four years. An individual may be reappointed to subsequent terms	36
of office.	37

(2) Not later than ninety days after the effective date of	38
this section and every four years thereafter, an organization or	39
individual that wishes to nominate an individual for the position	40
of Ohio poet laureate shall submit a nomination to the Ohio arts	41
council. An individual shall not self-nominate for the position.	42

(3) Not later than one hundred twenty days after the	43
effective date of this section and every four years thereafter,	44
the governor shall select the Ohio poet laureate from the list of	45
nominees provided under division (C)(2) of this section.	46

(D) To qualify for the position of Ohio poet laureate, an	47
individual shall satisfy the following conditions:	48

(1) The individual shall be a current resident of Ohio, with	49
at least ten concurrent years of residency.	50

(2) The individual shall have the ability to travel	51
throughout the state.	52

(3) The individual shall have a proven history in poetry that	53
includes works published in books, anthologies, literary journals,	54
or magazines, including at least one work that is not	55
self-published or by a vanity press.	56

(4) The individual shall demonstrate an active presence in	57
the state's literary community through such areas as reading,	58
publications, public presentations, or teaching.	59

(5) The individual shall demonstrate critical acclaim through	60
special honors, awards, or other recognition.	61

(E) In the event of the death, resignation, or any other	62
vacancy or inability to perform the duties of Ohio poet laureate	63
during the individual's unexpired term of office, the Ohio arts	64
council shall request nominations to fill the position. Within	65
ninety days of issuing the request, the governor shall select from	66
the list the Ohio poet laureate to serve the remainder of that	67
unexpired term of office.	68

Section 2. That existing section 3379.03 of the Revised Code	69
is hereby repealed.	70