FL H0513

Creates an honorary State Poet Laureate position within the Department of State with a 4-year term of service.

Assigns the Florida Council on Arts and Culture to solicit nominations from literary sources and the public, then recommend at least five qualified nominees to the Secretary of State.

Establishes nomination qualifications: candidates must be permanent Florida residents, public literary poets with significant standing, and willing to perform duties including outreach, mentoring, and poetry readings.

Directs the Secretary of State to submit three finalists to the Governor, who appoints one as State Poet Laureate; vacancies are filled using the same process for the remainder of the unexpired term.

Provides that the State Poet Laureate, former laureates designated as Emeritus or Emerita, serve without compensation; became effective July 1, 2014.