PIERRE, S.D.(KBRK)- The state House Education Committee Monday advanced with a ‘do pass’ recommendation a bill to reimburse schools for providing free meals to students eligible for reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program.

District 15 state Rep. Kadyn Wittman, D-Sioux Falls is the bill’s sponsor.

She said this would cost the state roughly $600 thousand per year and benefit about eight percent of students.

District 7 State Rep. Roger DeGroot, R-Brookings supported the bill, saying districts like Brookings already do this — at their own cost.

District 22 state Sen. Brandon Wipf, R-Huron testified for the bill, saying it’s wrong to punish kids for their parents’ inability to pay.

Following a failed attempt to advance the bill with a ‘do not pass’ recommendation, the committee voted 13-1 to forward the bill to the House Appropriations committee with a recommendation to pass it.  The only no vote was District 1 Representative Logan Manhart.