By STEPHEN KORANDA

Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee say Kansans wrongly convicted of crimes deserve to be compensated by the state. The panel amended and advanced a bill Monday that would do that using more than just cash.

Right now, Kansas pays nothing automatically to people imprisoned on botched convictions. People in that situation can use lawsuits to seek payments, but the bill in the legislature would create a system for compensation without a legal fight.

Republican Sen. Molly Baumgardner suggested trimming the proposed payments in the plan from $80,000 for each year spent in jail to $50,000, because that’s what the federal government pays.

“You cannot give these folks their years back,” Baumgardner said. “I thought that was a good start.”

Lawmakers last week heard about the challenges people face after being wrongly convicted of crimes. They had lost time with their families and everything they owned. After being released from prison, they were left broke with no credit or work history.

“It’s an uphill battle,” said Floyd Bledsoe, who spent 16 years in prison for a rape and murder he didn’t commit. “It’s a day-to-day battle.”

To take a more holistic approach to helping people like Bledsoe, Baumgardner pushed for boosting services available to them. Her amendments added other support such as health care coverage and college tuition.

“We are going to be there for you, including education and health care,” Baumgardner said. “That’s better than just saying ‘here’s some financial compensation.’”

Democratic Sen. David Haley said money should be provided as soon as possible to people who were wrongly imprisoned, not in a series of yearly payments. The plan would start with a $100,000 payment and the rest would be paid out annually. A court could choose to offer a single lump sum payment if that’s deemed appropriate.

Haley also has concerns about reducing the amount people receive for each year they were wrongly imprisoned.

“Those years are stolen,” Haley said. “It’s undercompensated at $50,000.”

However, Haley called his concerns “nitpicking” compared to the steps the bill takes toward helping people convicted of crimes they didn’t commit.

“I’m so happy after a decade we are really, finally doing something,” Haley said. “It’s a great start.”

The proposal could come up for consideration in the Senate this week as lawmakers debate dozens of bills to beat a legislative deadline.

Stephen Koranda is Statehouse reporter for KPR, a partner in the Kansas News Service. Follow him on Twitter @kprkoranda.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a fatal police shooting in Overland Park was justified.

Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe and Overland Park Police Chief Frank Donchez announced Tuesday that no charges will be filed against officers involved in the Jan. 20 shooting of 17-year-old John Albers.

Police have said that Albers was shot by officers as he drove a car out of his family’s garage toward a police officer.

Officers were called to the home after receiving a call from someone who saw the teenager on FaceTime and believed he was suicidal.

Albers’ parents were not home at the time.

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY —A Kansas woman died in an accident just after 11p.m. Monday in Pottawatomie County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Ford F150 driven by Donald D. Ebert, 51, Louisville, was westbound on U.S. 24 near Camp Creek Road.

The driver lost control of the vehicle on the icy bridge and collided head-on with a 2004 Old Alero driven by Sarah Helen Salinas, 38, St. Marys.

Salinas was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Stewart Funeral Home.

Ebert and a passenger Corina M. Roudybush, 50, Clay Center, were transported to the hospital in Topeka.

Salinas was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

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POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal head on crash that occurred just after 11p.m. Monday in Pottawatomie County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a vehicle was westbound on U24 near Camp Creek Road. The driver lost control of the vehicle on the icy bridge and collided head-on with an eastbound vehicle.

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities continue their investigation of a fatal weekend crash and have identified the victim.

Just before 11:30 a.m. Saturday, officers responded to an injury accident at 119th Street west and Beaumont in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.

The investigation showed a funeral precession was south bound on 119th Street and north bound vehicles were stopped showing respect.

A 31-year-old male driver in a green minivan traveling northbound, failed to stop for the stopped vehicles, and rear-ended a small red sport utility vehicle driven by Karen Capps, 59, Valley Center.

Capps was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Davidson.

Capps’ mother was a passenger in the SUV. She and the diver of the minivan were taken to an area hospital for medical treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

The Wichita Police Department present the case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.