MONTGOMERY (AP) — The Alabama Legislature is getting closer to selling $50 million in bonds to buy equipment for technical programs in Alabama's public schools.

The Senate Finance and Taxation-Education Committee on Wednesday approved bond issue legislation that passed the House earlier. The bill now goes to the Senate.

Alabama's director of technical education, Philip Cleveland, says public schools last received state funding for new technical education equipment in 2005. He says some are teaching students on outdated equipment that is no longer used by Alabama businesses.

Former State Board of Education member Gary Warren has been pushing for the bond issue since before he retired from the board. He says improved technical education programs will keep students in school and reduce Alabama's dropout rate.