ASSEMBLY, No. 1900

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED MAY 6, 1996

By Assemblyman AUGUSTINE

An Act concerning school buses and supplementing chapter 39 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. a. The board of education of any school district may enter into a contract for the sale of advertising space on the exterior sides of school buses owned or leased by the school district, subject to the limitations set forth in this section. Advertisements for tobacco or alcohol products or for political advocacy shall be prohibited, in addition to any other advertisements for products and services or by sponsors that the Commissioner of Education deems inappropriate. All advertisements shall require prior approval by the local board of education.

    b. The provisions of the "Public School Contracts Law," N.J.S.18A:18A-1 et seq., shall apply to any contract entered into by a board of education pursuant to this act.

    2. The commissioner shall evaluate the impact of school bus advertising and report on the evaluation to the Legislature and the Governor no later than one year following the effective date of this act and annually thereafter. The report shall include the number of school districts which permit the advertising and the fiscal benefits derived therefrom.

    3. In accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), the State Board of Education shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act including, but not limited to, the permissible size of the advertising and criteria for determining the age-appropriateness of the advertising and the suitability of the message.

    4. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This bill permits the board of education of any school district to enter into a contract for the sale of advertising space on the exterior sides of school buses owned or leased by the school district. Advertisements for tobacco or alcohol products or for political advocacy will be prohibited, in addition to any other advertisements that the Commissioner of Education deems inappropriate. The bill also requires that all advertisements be approved by the local board of education prior to their use. The commissioner is required to report to the Legislature and the Governor within one year of the effective date of the bill, and annually thereafter, concerning advertising on school buses. The report will include the number of boards of education that permit the advertising and the fiscal benefits that have been derived therefrom.

    Currently, advertising on the exterior or interior of school buses is prohibited pursuant to N.J.A.C.6:21-6B.17(f). This bill is designed to increase revenues for local school districts to provide needed educational services.