The Alaska Senate Finance Committee advanced legislation Tuesday that would allow people with overturned criminal convictions to receive Permanent Fund Dividends they were previously denied.

The committee recommended Senate Bill 167 move forward with a Finance Committee substitute and a new indeterminate fiscal note. The bill now sits in the Rules Committee with no further referrals.

The Finance Committee split on its recommendation. Senators Olson and Hoffman, both cochairs, signed do pass recommendations for the substitute bill. Senator Stedman, also a cochair, signed a no recommendation along with Senators Kaufman, Cronk, and Merrick. Senator Kiel signed an amend recommendation.

Under current law, Alaskans convicted of certain crimes lose eligibility for their annual dividend payments. The bill addresses cases where those convictions are later overturned, allowing people to claim dividends they would have received had they not been wrongly convicted.

The Finance Committee substitute replaced the original bill, though the specific changes were not detailed in the floor session. The indeterminate fiscal note indicates the state cannot yet estimate the cost of paying out back dividends to eligible Alaskans.

The Senate met in technical session Tuesday, a limited format that allows only committee reports and procedural business. No floor debate or public testimony occurred during the brief session.

The bill awaits scheduling by the Rules Committee before it can advance to the full Senate floor for debate and a vote.