H-1167.1                  _______________________________________________

                                       HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 4412

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State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1993 Regular Session

By Representatives Jacobsen, Miller, Anderson, R. Fisher and Finkbeiner

Read first time 02/05/93.  Referred to Committee on State Government.

Appointing a poet laureate to be paid in Washington wine.

          WHEREAS, The legislature wishes to recognize the value of poetry and the contribution Washington poets make to the culture of our state; and

          WHEREAS, The legislature wishes to promote the Washington wine industry in recognition of wine as the traditional beverage complementing the cultivation of the arts;

          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the House of Representatives of the state of Washington, the Senate concurring, That the governor appoint a Washington poet to serve as the poet laureate of the state of Washington.  The duties of the poet laureate are to write poetry and lofty expressions to be read at appropriate state occasions.  The term of the poet laureate is two years.

          Before making an appointment under this section, the governor shall confer with a committee consisting of one member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, one member appointed by the president of the senate, and one member appointed by the governor.  The committee shall recommend to the governor one or more candidates for poet laureate after seeking and considering nominations from poets, writers, poetry critics, professors of English, magazine and literary review editors, state and local arts commission members, and any other persons the committee determines to have exhibited an exceptional knowledge of poetry; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the salary of the poet laureate consists of one butt of Washington wine per year donated by representatives of the Washington wine industry.  For the purposes of RCW 66.28.040, the poet laureate qualifies as a board representative.

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