California Youth Poet Laureate.

Existing law, the Dixon-Zenovich-Maddy California Arts Act of 1975, establishes the Arts Council and sets forth the duties of the council in promoting the arts in the state. Existing law establishes the position of California Poet Laureate, who is appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate from a list of nominees garnered by the council, and performs specified duties. Existing law authorizes the council to pay an appropriate stipend to the California Poet Laureate and requires the council to provide for the payment of their expenses, as specified. This bill would enact similar provisions establishing the position of California Youth Poet Laureate. The bill would authorize the Governor to appoint an individual from among 3 nominees 13 to 19 years of age, inclusive, garnered by the Arts Council. The bill would require the California Youth Poet Laureate to, among other things, provide a minimum of 6 public readings during their 2-year term endeavoring to ensure that people in all geographic regions of the state have reasonable access to at least one reading during the course of the term. The bill would, upon appropriation by the Legislature of funds for this purpose, require the council to provide an annual stipend of $10,000 to the California Youth Poet Laureate and to pay the California Youth Poet Laureate's travel expenses incurred in the course of attending readings and meetings. The bill would exempt the contracts entered into by the California Youth Poet Laureate from provisions generally governing contracts for artistic or creative services by minors.