COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Sons of Confederate Veterans will be able to keep money raised through sales of its specialty license plates under a bill that has cleared the House Education and Public Works Committee.

The group has not been receiving profits from tag sales like other nonprofit groups. The Senate bill the committee approved Wednesday changes that.

Rep. B.R. Skelton, R-Six Mile, said he wanted to make sure the group got the same treatment as other nonprofit groups.

"In the past other have been getting money above the cost of the tag and they haven't been getting any," he said.

The group plans to use the money for cemetery restoration and the annual Battle of Aiken reenactment.

The House will take up the bill after it works on the state budget next week.