HF 3161

as introduced - 83rd Legislature (2003 - 2004) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to the state; appointing a poet laureate; 
  1.3             appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in 
  1.4             Minnesota Statutes, chapter 138. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6    Section 1.  [138.99] [POET LAUREATE.]
  1.7   Subdivision 1.  [APPOINTMENT.] 
  1.8   The Gov' shall appoint a state poet laureate,
  1.9   Who shall serve for a four-year term.
  1.10  Because this appointment will always be great,
  1.11  There's no need for the Senate to confirm.
  1.12  In appointing a poet for the public good,
  1.13  And to ensure there's no unjust omission,
  1.14  The governor shall consider, if he would
  1.15  Thoughts of the Humanities Commission.
  1.16  Subd. 2.  [REMOVAL.]
  1.17  The poet will be free to write rhyming lines,
  1.18  With removal only for cause,
  1.19  But we trust that the bard will promptly resign,
  1.20  If the verse reads as badly as laws.
  1.21  Subd. 3.  [COMPENSATION.]
  1.22  "Twould be fair to provide some just recompense
  1.23  As reward for the poet's tribulations,
  1.24  But because at this time we haven't the cents
  1.25  We're afraid there is no compensation.
  1.26  But we ask as the poet travels the state,
  1.27  And the people their ears they lend,
  1.28  That our learned Commission take the position
  1.29  To provide the poor poet a stipend.
  1.30  Subd. 4.  [APPROPRIATION.]
  1.31  To provide the support that needs to come
  1.32  To support our new laureate,
  1.33  From the general fund, the following sum,
  1.34  We hereby appropriate:
  1.35   $.......