LUSK, Wyo. (AP) — A Wyoming legislative committee has endorsed two bills that could help state convicts who say they're innocent of the crimes that sent them to prison.

The Joint Judiciary Committee voted Thursday in Lusk to endorse one bill that would allow the state to compensate inmates who are cleared by DNA evidence. It would allow payments of $75 a day, up to a cap of $300,000.

The committee also endorsed another bill that would establish a procedure in state law to allow inmates to argue that they're innocent of crimes in which there's no DNA evidence. If they were successful in clearing their names, they would be eligible for the same compensation.

The bills will go before the full Legislature at its hearing that starts early next year.

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