BILL ANALYSIS
AB 113
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Date of Hearing: March 20, 2001
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS
Lou Correa, Chair
AB 113 (Pavley) - As Amended: March 14, 2001
SUBJECT : California Poet Laureate.
SUMMARY : Establishes the position of and appointment process
for a California Poet Laureate. Specifically, this bill :
1)Creates the position of California Poet Laureate to be
appointed by the Governor from a list of three nominees
provided by the California Arts Council (Council).
2)Provides that the Council shall acquire the nominees using a
panel of three literary experts, which may include professors,
teachers, public and private arts organizations with
significant literary components, professional poets, and
literary critics.
3)Provides that the panel shall solicit nominations from a broad
array of literary sources and individuals, including but not
limited to, the following:
a) University and college literature departments.
b) Literary organizations, societies, and centers.
c) Poetry book publishers and poetry editors.
d) Directors of poetry reading series.
e) Independent booksellers specializing in poetry.
1)Provides that a nominee must have resided in California for at
least 10 years and be a prominent poet with a significant
amount of published work.
2)Limits the appointment of the Poet Laureate to no more than
two, two-year terms.
3)Provides that the Council shall establish an appropriate
stipend for the expenses of the Poet Laureate.
4)Provides that the Poet Laureate, as a condition of the
appointment, shall assume specified responsibilities set forth
by the Council.
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5)Provides that the Poet Laureate shall make at least six public
readings during each term and undertake one specific project
that should last through the term. The project should
endeavor to make the poetic arts more accessible to California
and its students.
6)Encourages the Poet Laureate to coordinate his or her project
with any similar project being undertaken by the current
United States Poet Laureate.
7)Provides that the Council shall publish, beginning in 2010,
and every ten years thereafter, an anthology of works by the
Poets Laureate of the previous decade.
8)Allows the Council to award grants to poets who apply for
poetic projects, which must adhere to guidelines and criteria
established by the Council.
9)Allows the Council to solicit and receive gifts, donations,
bequests, grants, or any other revenues, from public or
private sources, and to expend those funds to increase the
stipend of the Poet Laureate, and for any other purpose the
Council deems necessary.
EXISTING LAW : There is no current law that establishes the
position of and procedure for appointing the California Poet
Laureate.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : According to Dr. Kevin Starr, California State
Librarian, "When Californians honor one poet laureate, they
honor all poets as seers, those gifted with vision to see what
others cannot. Having a poet laureate for California would
serve to show the world that Californians acknowledge their
literary wealth as well as their commercial and industrial
wealth."
California's most recent Poet Laureate, Charles Garrigus, a
former member of the Legislature, was appointed by a legislative
resolution in 1966. He held the position until his death in
October 2000.
The bill creates a statutory method for appointing the
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California Poet Laureate for a limited term. The appointment
process is similar to methods used in a number of other states
as well as some California cities. A key aspect of the process
is the inclusion of a wide range of literary organizations,
college and university literary departments, poetry critics, and
other poets.
Supporters emphasize that the state's Poet Laureate should be an
important role model for all Californians, especially the youth,
who have literary interests. Because of California's broad and
diverse citizenry, such a role model also can have a positive
impact on outreach. Supporters believe that having someone in
this position who will actively promote poetry and literacy, and
who is knowledgeable of the lessons of history, will benefit the
state.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Poets & Writers California Programs
Sacramento Poetry Center
Numerous Individuals
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Chris L. Gallardo / B. & P. / (916)
319-3301