Section 6. Essay contest.
(a) General rule.--The Legislative Bicentennial Subcommittee shall sponsor an essay contest in keeping with its overall goal of stimulating the interest of all Pennsylvanians in the origins of our United States Constitution.
(b) Participants and purpose.--The essay contest, open to all 9th through 12th grade students of the Commonwealth, is designed for contestants to examine the Constitution's basic ideas thoroughly and, through that understanding, become inspired to preserve it.
(c) Topic.--The essay contest topic shall be "What Makes the Bill of Rights Essential to Our United States Constitution?" The essay shall not exceed a total of 1,500 words.
(d) Period of contest.--The essay contest shall span a period from March 2 to June 1, 1987, with first, second and third place contest winners chosen by October 1, 1987, by the Legislative Bicentennial Subcommittee. Each of the 29 intermediate units shall choose two finalists from its unit. All entries shall be submitted to the Legislative Bicentennial Subcommittee postmarked no later than June 30, 1987.
(e) Award for first place winner.--The essay contest's first place winner shall receive a cash award, an expense-paid trip to Harrisburg and the opportunity to read the winning essay at the reenactment of the Pennsylvania Ratification Convention in December.
(f) Awards for second and third place winners.--The second and third place contest winners shall receive lesser cash awards, as well as expense-paid trips to the reenactment of the Pennsylvania Ratification Convention.
(g) Dissemination of rules and information.--Upon passage of this act, complete essay contest rules and information shall be sent to the 29 Pennsylvania intermediate units by the Legislative Bicentennial Subcommittee.