Bill Allowing School Bus Advertising Will Be Reintroduced

Sen. John J. Tassoni Jr. (D-Dist. 22, Smithfield, North Smithfield) announced today that he will re-introduce legislation in the Rhode Island General Assembly that would give school districts the go-ahead to sell ads on school buses.

“Maybe the third time is the charm,” Tassoni said in a release.

Two prior bills submitted int 2009 and 2010 respectively never made it out of Senate committee. The same bill did pass the House of Representatives two years ago.

“With school budgets being cut, with programs and important student activities being eliminated, fund-generating options of all kinds should be open for discussion,” said Senator Tassoni. “If a few ads on school buses can save a program or sport, or help give students the best education possible, I think that’s an option that should be made available.”

Tassonni said he was prompted by reports that Cranston officials are considering selling ads on school buses. The asking the General Assembly to pass enabling legislation to permit the practice.

The Senator said he imagines the advertising could be sold to local businesses. The ads would be driving on local streets all day, so "why not do something that can help businessess and our schools at the same time?" he said in a release.

“I have heard the arguments against doing this,” Tassoni continued. “My position is that, if a few tasteful ads can bring in some money to help give school children a better education or save some programs that might be cut because of tight budgets, it is worth doing.”

The reintroduced bill would restrict advertising to bus exteriors. No district would be required to sell ads.

"This would be a local decision," he said.