DENVER (KDVR) Students in Colorado get free breakfast and lunch thanks to voters, but the program has had some complaints, especially about what to do with food that students do not eat.

A measure at the state’s capitol encourages schools to end food waste by creating a program to repurpose that food.

On Student Day at the Colorado Capitol, sponsors presented a bill to make sure the food students get for lunch isn’t being wasted.

“We have a problem where people are not getting fed and we have schools where they are just throwing stuff in the trash can. And we had good-intentioned bills that put into place measures that want us to do good things like feed people, but we have no measure or protection in place for that food that goes in the trash can,” said Rep. Ron Weinberg of Loveland. “I think this is an excellent bill that will push us into a direction of Colorado actually being responsible for not wasting food in our school systems,” he told members of the House Education committee.

The new bill encourages public schools to establish a program where students can return whole food or drinks, an idea presented to lawmakers by the Colorado Youth Advisory Council — the group of young people that presents ideas for laws every year. After they choose a program to avoid waste, schools can redistribute the food to other students who need it or to local charities.

Schools could also establish compost programs. Some schools are already using share tables and other initiatives but sponsors said schools are not protected from legal retribution if they want to donate the food.

“Under the federal Good Samaritan Act, you get protection from donating food. That doesn’t include schools. They can donate to nonprofits but it can’t be through individuals so this really helps expand some of that protection,” said Rep. Lisa Feret of Arvada.

“Because there is no protection if they have to do something like this, what happens if something happens? They get sued and then they are liable, now my school district is on the hook,” Weinberg explained.

The proposal did not have much opposition, but some folks did call on the state to re-evaluate how the free food program operates.

“Circulations are necessary and can be great. When it comes to food, waste in schools, however, we need to reduce before we figure how to reuse, redistribute or recycle. While I agree with diverting waste to product avenues, we must address whether the very expensive free school lunch program is something we should be throwing money at moving forward,” said Erin Meschke of Boulder.

The bill cleared the House Education Committee unanimously Thursday afternoon. It now advances to the House floor.