Clifford Williams spent nearly 43 years behind bars for a crime he did not commit.

On Tuesday, the 77-year-old man left the Florida Capitol with apologies from legislative leaders and the promise of "clean" hands.

The Florida House unanimously signed off on a measure to pay $2.15 million to Williams for the four-plus decades he spent in prison, including four years on death row, after being convicted of murder.

"This injustice did not break his spirit. As I look into his eyes, I sense how truly grateful he is, being so humble to stand before the same state that wronged him, in a spirit of true thanksgiving," House sponsor Kimberly Daniels, D-Jacksonville, said.

The House vote, as Williams, his family and their lawyers watched from the public gallery overlooking the chamber, followed a unanimous vote by the Senate last week. The measure (SB 28) awaits action by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Williams and his nephew Hubert Nathan Myers were convicted in the 1976 murder in Jacksonville of a woman and the attempted murder of her girlfriend.

Williams' exoneration was due largely to the Conviction Integrity Review Division established by State Attorney Melissa Nelson in the Fourth Judicial Circuit, made up of Clay, Duval and Nassau counties.

Under a Florida law passed in 2008, people who have been wrongfully imprisoned and who can prove their innocence are entitled to $50,000 for every year they were incarcerated, up to a maximum of $2 million.

The law, however, excludes people such as Williams who had prior felony convictions.

Innocence Project of Florida Executive Director Seth Miller and Holland & Knight lawyers Mark Delegal and Larry Sellers worked to pass what is known as a "claim bill" to compensate Williams.

A review of Williams' case revealed that "multiple credible alibi witnesses" were not called to testify during his 1976 trial, House Special Master Jordan Jones wrote in a report on the claim bill.

"I find that claimant has successfully demonstrated, by clear and convincing evidence, that he is actually innocent of the crimes for which he was convicted in 1976," Jones wrote in the eight-page report.

While Williams' felony convictions for attempted arson in 1960 and robbery in 1966 make him ineligible for the compensation allowed in state law, "the Legislature is not bound by that process and may pass this claim bill regardless of whether claimant could otherwise obtain relief," Jones noted.

Shortly after the House finalized passage of Williams' claim bill, the diminutive Jacksonville resident and his family joined Daniels and several other House Democrats at a news conference to celebrate what they called justice for the soft-spoken man, who has said he relied on God to carry him through his decades-long ordeal.

Daniels said the compensation "in no way makes up for the injustice done" to Williams.

"Our Legislature has done the right thing by offering this small token of compensation, which is a big deal in the Williams family," she said.

Turning to Williams, Daniels added: "Sir … your hands are clean today."

Echoing Daniels, other lawmakers and the lawyers who worked on his case praised the elderly man for maintaining a positive attitude despite conditions that might have prompted a different response in others.

Delegal said Williams "taught me a lot about his grace and thankfulness" throughout the process.

"It's been a blessing to get to know this guy," Delegal said, adding, "I just admire the doggone heck out of you."

Sellers called Williams a "real inspiration," saying, "I don't know how you did it."

But Williams shook his head, pointing toward the ceiling.

"He did it. It wasn't me," he said.

Addressing reporters, Williams thanked his lawyers and other people who helped him while he was incarcerated.

"I think God for everything he have did in my life, because I couldn't have did it by myself. God did it. It wasn't what I did," he said softly.

Williams said he plans to go back to prison, this time to help the friends he left behind when he was released last March.

"They told me, once I'd been out a year, that I could come and bring the ministry in there. And that's what I'm going to do," he said.

Several lawmakers had visited some of the state's prisons to gather information as they pursued legislative reforms to Florida's criminal justice system.

Rep. Wengay Newton, D-St. Petersburg, pointed out that nearly 100,000 inmates are locked up in Florida, compared to Texas, a state with a similar population but less than half the number of state prisoners.

"This system is busted," Newton said before apologizing directly to Williams. "I can't say nothing but I'm sorry."

Dara Kam reports for the Associated Press.