PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona House voted Tuesday to require that inmates who win a lawsuit for being injured on the job use the proceeds to pay for their own medical care.

Republicans approved the measure in a party-line vote after Rep. Anthony Kern said his legislation is intended to prevent overzealous lawyers from profiting at the state's expense.

“This is an attempt to stop attorneys from trolling prisoners and lining their pockets with the money and leaving the inmates a few crumbs,” said Kern, a Republican from Glendale.

Democrats said the legislation does far more than that, however. They said it's unconscionable for the state to take the money paid to inmates who successfully sue for being hurt while engaged in prison labor, noting inmates aren't eligible for workers compensation.

“It might not be the intent, but the effect of the bill is retribution, because the people who are incarcerated have spoken up and successfully gained legal counsel," said Rep. Athena Salman, a Tempe Democrat.

Inmates are already required to pay their court-ordered restitution and incarceration costs before seeing the proceeds of a successful lawsuit.

The measure goes next to the Senate.