OKLAHOMA CITY,OK (AP) - A legislative panel has passed a measure its author says would help public housing authorities recoup financial losses caused by irresponsible tenants.

The Senate Finance Committee approved the bill Tuesday. Its author, Sen. Earl Garrison of Muskogee, says it would allow housing authorities to garnish former tenants' personal income tax refunds for money owed for rent or property damage.

Housing authorities would be able to file claims with the Oklahoma Tax Commission to deduct debts owed to them from tenants' personal income tax refunds.

Garrison says public housing rent is based on a person's income, so there's no reason tenants should not be liable for their rent.

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Garrison says the Tulsa Housing Authority has more than $5.5 million in outstanding debt due to unpaid rent and property damage.