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Lawmakers once again considering advertising on school buses

By Regan McCarthy

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-996543.mp3

Tallahassee, FL – School districts are looking for new ways to raise revenue. Regan McCarthy reports one idea under consideration in the legislature is to sell advertising spots on the sides of school buses.

If a proposal making its way through the legislature becomes law school buses could start being plastered with ads just like city buses are now. The House K-20 Competitiveness Subcommittee considered the bill that would make that happen. Some legislators raised concerns about what the nature of the ads might be because it would seem as through the schools were promoting those products. Republican Representative Erik Fresen agrees that's a consideration, but he says he doesn't think legislation needs to spell out exactly what kinds of ads aren't okay.

"That discussion will happen at the local school board level whenever they want to have that discussion. I'm sure it will get vetted by staff as far as creating what those stands might be. To try to prescribe at the state level what those standards may be is probably an exercise in futility."

The bill passed out of the committee favorably with little debate.