N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law § 8.11: New York state Walt Whitman citation of merit for poets

§ 8.11. New York state Walt Whitman citation of merit for poets. 1.

The governor shall biennially present the New York state Walt Whitman

citation of merit to a distinguished New York poet upon the

recommendation of the panel constituted in this section. The poet

selected shall be considered the state poet and the citation shall carry

an honorarium of ten thousand dollars.

2. The institute shall biennially appoint and convene an advisory

panel of distinguished poets and persons with particular expertise in

the field of poetry. The director of the institute shall be a permanent

member of the advisory panel and each current state poet shall serve as

a member of the panel in choosing the next New York state Walt Whitman

poet. The panel shall recommend to the governor a poet whose

achievements make him or her deserving of such recognition.

3. The state poet shall promote and encourage poetry within the state

and shall give two public readings within the state each year.

4. The institute shall establish such procedures and guidelines as are

necessary to effect the provisions of this section.