HB 1479 Summary

• Creates an honorary State Poet Laureate position within the Department of State, with appointment by the Governor.

• Assigns the Florida Council on Arts and Culture to promote poetry, accept nominations from literary sources, and recommend at least three qualified nominees to the Secretary of State.

• Requires nominees to be permanent Florida residents, public literary poets with significant standing inside and outside the state, and willing to perform outreach, mentoring, and poetry readings.

• Sets the term at 4 years concurrent with the appointing Governor's term, with vacancies filled in the same manner as original appointments.

• Designates all current and future State Poets Laureate as State Poet Laureate Emeritus upon their successor's appointment, with both positions serving without compensation; effective July 1, 2012.