If passed by the House, the bill (SB394) would make West Virginia the 41st state to require an online verification system for auto insurance, said Sen. John Unger, D-Berkeley.

That would crack down on the large numbers of uninsured drivers in West Virginia, which should result in lower overall auto insurance rates statewide, Unger said.

"This is going to translate into real dollars for everyone in West Virginia who drives," he said.

State senators passed the bill on a 32-0 vote.

Unger said the inability to enforce uninsured driver laws in West Virginia contributes to auto insurance rates that are roughly double those of neighboring states. He used Bluefield as an example, noting that six months of AIG coverage runs an average of $562 on the West Virginia side, but only $278 across the line in Virginia.

West Virginia's policies are pricier because uninsured motorist coverage is more expensive here, Unger said.

"That part of the line-item ought to come down," he said.

Currently, West Virginia law requires drivers to carry a proof of insurance card in their vehicles. However, Unger said that without electronic verification, many drivers get coverage just long enough to get their vehicle registration, then cancel their policies.

The proposed electronic verification system would allow law enforcement officers to immediately verify that drivers have current auto insurance coverage during traffic stops, he said.

The system would simply provide officers with a yes or no answer on whether the driver has current auto insurance - but would not require insurers to divulge any other information about the policy holder.

"The bill is balanced to uphold privacy rights and verify insurance coverage," Unger said.

He said the insurance industry has been neutral on the bill - and said he suspects that's because insurance companies make more money off the current system than they would if all uninsured drivers obtained coverage.

Also Tuesday, the Senate:

| Passed 25-7 and sent to the House a bill (SB597) that would require that women undergoing abortion be given the opportunity to view an ultrasound of the fetus, if ultrasound is used during the procedure.

"It merely says that if one is done, the opportunity must be offered for the woman to view it," Senate Judiciary Chairman Jeff Kessler, D-Marshall, said of the proposed addition to requirements under the state's informed consent law.

"It's another example of the Legislature practicing medicine without a license," Sen. Dan Foster, D-Kanawha, said of the bill. Foster, a Charleston physician, noted that even its supporters are unsure whether the bill will reduce rates of abortion in the state.

Foster and Kanawha County's other three senators, Brooks McCabe, Corey Palumbo and Erik Wells, voted against the bills, as did Sens. Doug Facemire, John Pat Fanning and Herb Snyder. Sens. Clark Barnes and Don Caruth were absent.

| Passed 32-0 and sent to the House to allow major industrial plants that use large amounts of electricity to negotiate special rates with power companies, including discount rates during market downturns for the plant's products (SB656).

Proponents of the bill say it could hasten the reopening of the Century Aluminum plant in Ravenswood, which laid off nearly 700 employees when it shut down last year. However, Public Service Commission consumer advocate Byron Harris said residential consumers could be stuck with higher rates if plants negotiate special rates and then shut down.

| Passed 31-1 and sent to the House a bill changing definitions for shallow wells for natural gas drilling operations (SB369).

Sen. Randy White, D-Webster, was the lone opponent of the bill, saying it will allow large out-of-state operators to drain natural gas reserves in the massive Marcellus Shale Formation off of neighboring properties.

"It's another opportunity for large out-of-state corporations to take the gas and the royalties from these small land-holders," he said.

| Passed 31-1 and sent to the House a Manchin administration bill to create a state Fleet Management Office to oversee the entire state vehicle fleet (SB219). Currently, a large number of state offices and agencies - and a large majority of the 7,000 state-owned vehicles -- are exempted from the Department of Administration's fleet management regulations.

Senate Majority Leader Truman Chafin, D-Mingo, voted against the bill. He had a previous constitutional question on whether statewide elected officials such as the attorney general, treasurer and secretary of state are obligated to follow Administration regulations.

Reach Phil Kabler at ph...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1220.