The State Board of Education's regulations must prohibit advertising that: contains obscenity, sexual material, gambling, tobacco products, alcohol, political campaigns or causes, public advocacy or lobbying, or religion; promotes the use of drugs or any illegal activity or antisocial behavior; contains general content that is harmful, discriminatory, false, misleading or deceptive, not age-appropriate, as described in the act; contains an endorsement by a school district for a product or service.

A local school board may adopt a policy for advertising on the school buses operated in the district, which must comply with the State Board of Education's rules and regulations. Any private owners of school buses used in a district under a contract with the district may lease space on their school buses to the district. The school bus owners-operators must receive ten percent of the total value of the contract. A school district may solicit offers from commercial advertisers for the use of space on the school buses that service the district. This act also contains requirements that must be included in a contract or lease agreement.

All school bus advertisements must be painted or affixed by decal on a school bus in a manner that does not interfere with state and federal requirements for school bus markings, lights, signs, and other parts of a school bus, as described in the act. Advertisements cannot be placed on the front, rear, or driver's side of the school bus. School districts will retain the advertising revenue after payment is made to the private owners. Fifty percent of the district's revenue must be used for fuel costs.

MICHAEL RUFF