(JOPLIN, Mo., AP) — Missouri sheriffs say the state isn’t paying them enough to cover the cost of housing state prisoners.

Currently, the state pays counties $19.58 a day for food, housing and some medical care for inmates convicted of state crimes. The Joplin Globe reports (http://bit.ly/10v7FZb) that some county sheriffs say they spend $30 or more every day to house the prisoners.

State Rep. Galen Higdon, a Republican from St. Joseph, is chairman of a house committee on sheriff’s operations. He acknowledged that county taxpayers are bearing some of the cost for housing state prisoners.

Higdon says his committee will propose legislation this session to address compensation as well as several other issues for law enforcement agencies. He wouldn’t discuss specific recommendations until all committee members have approved a draft of the bill.