PIERRE, S.D.(KELO)- It’s just the first step, but legislators have approved a bill to take some financial pressure off of county governments.

State Court Administrator Greg Sattizahn (SAT-iz-ahn) appeared before a House committee Friday.

He asked lawmakers to support the creation of a statewide indigent legal defense system.

South Dakota is one of the few states that doesn’t have a statewide system.

The commission would cost 1.4-million dollars, and save counties 2.1-million, for a net savings of $600-thousand dollars for taxpayers.

The cost is included in Governor Noem’s proposed budget.