Section 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.