The Kentucky Innocence Project has helped a dozen people get out of prison for crimes they did not commit.

Now, some state lawmakers are hoping to pay back exonerated Kentuckians for the time they served.

My wrongful conviction is best explained with these three pictures.

This fella here is a rapist.

This picture here is a composite drawing of a rapist.

This picture here is me looking like a rapist.

Just that chance.

Calls me 11 years in prison, six years on parole before I finally met up with the Kentucky Innocence Project.

So our exonerees face a tremendous amount of problems when they reenter society.

And this kind of a bill would allow them to get that toehold back.

It wouldn't completely make up for all the years that they've lost, but at least put them in a situation where they can provide for transportation for themselves so they can get education and they can also provide housing.

Under House Bill one, 78 exonerees could file to receive $65,000 for each year, served in prison, and $25,000 for each year on parole.

They can also receive assistance for college tuition, housing, past child support and medical expenses.

The bill was approved unanimously in a committee yesterday.

It now heads to the full House for consideration there.