(a)

(1) The Commission for Arkansas Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation shall establish a system of permit numbers to be used in identifying school buses owned or operated by or in behalf of school districts in this state.

(2) The system of permit numbers shall assign an identifying prefix number to each school district with provisions for consecutive numbers thereafter for buses of the district.

(b) Each school district in this state shall be notified of the permit number assigned the school district under this section and shall be furnished instructions for identifying all school buses owned or operated by or in behalf of the school district.

(c)

(1) The permit number assigned each school district and the school district name shall be painted in letters not less than six inches (6'') high on both sides and on the rear of all school buses owned by the district or used in behalf of the district.

(2) Permit numbers shall be painted on the buses in compliance with the rules promulgated by the commission.

(d) No school district in this state shall operate a school bus nor shall any school bus be operated for or in behalf of a school district unless the school district name and permit number has been painted on the bus in compliance with this section.

(e) A school district failing to comply with this section shall be penalized by the withholding of all transportation aid due the district from the state until the school district is in compliance with this section.