1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to state government; establishing a Minnesota
1.3 	Humanities Commission; 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. [138.911] MINNESOTA HUMANITIES COMMISSION.
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Reports. The Minnesota Humanities
1.8 	Commission shall report to the legislature by September 1 of
1.9 	each year on the use of state funds appropriated to the
1.10 	commission.  The report shall include an itemized account of the
1.11 	programs and projects supported and the source of money for
1.12 	each.  The report shall show actual expenditures for the fiscal
1.13 	year ending the preceding June 30 and proposed expenditures for
1.14 	the fiscal year beginning the preceding July 1.
1.15 		Subd. 2.Humanities center. (a) The Minnesota Humanities
1.16 	Commission may establish a humanities center to ensure balance
1.17 	in public education and in the cultural life of the state, and
1.18 	to improve humanities education through the establishment of two
1.19 	institutes:  the Minnesota Institute for Lifelong Learning, and
1.20 	the Minnesota Institute for the Advancement of Teaching.
1.21 	(b) The humanities center may transport people and
1.22 	resources to small towns, rural communities, and urban settings
1.23 	to provide grants, technical assistance, and high quality
1.24 	educational and cultural programs to schools and community
1.25 	organizations throughout Minnesota.
2.1 	(c) The Minnesota Institute for the Advancement of Teaching
2.2 	may conduct seminars and other activities for the recognition of
2.3 	the teaching profession and the advancement of teaching in
2.4 	Minnesota.

2.5 	Sec. 2. [138.912] POET LAUREATE.
2.6 	(a) The position of poet laureate of the State of Minnesota
2.7 	is established.  The Minnesota Humanities Commission must
2.8 	solicit nominations for the poet laureate appointment, and must
2.9 	make recommendations to the governor.  After receiving
2.10 	recommendations from the Minnesota Humanities Commission, the
2.11 	governor shall appoint a state poet laureate, and shall conduct
2.12 	appropriate ceremonies to honor the person appointed.  The
2.13 	person appointed as poet laureate continues to serve in this
2.14 	position until the governor appoints another person.
2.15 	(b) State agencies and officers are encouraged to use the
2.16 	services of the poet laureate for appropriate ceremonies and
2.17 	celebrations.
2.18 	(c) Any expenses associated with the poet laureate must be
2.19 	paid from nonstate sources.

2.20 	Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 2.21 	Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.