The West Virginia Legislature unanimously passed a compromise bill last week that puts the state one step closer to a lower drunken driving threshold, The Dominion Post reported.

The legislation would lower the state’s blood-alcohol limit for motorists from 0.10 percent to 0.08 percent. The bill now heads to Gov. Bob Wise, who is expected to sign it.

The Senate first passed the proposal Jan. 16, the session’s third day. The House amended and advanced the bill the following week.

The House added extra penalties and mandatory treatment for repeat offenders and those with a blood alcohol level of 0.20 percent or worse.

Senators rejected that provision, citing its estimated cost. A joint Senate-House committee removed it when it met to resolve differences over the bill. The House and Senate each unanimously passed the compromise Feb. 5.

The bill now requires offenders to take driving safety and alcohol counseling classes to regain their drivers’ licenses, the newspaper reported.

Passage of SB166 would bring the state in compliance with a federal decree that states adopt the lower limit or lose federal highway dollars. West Virginia is one of only four states (Colorado, Delaware and Minnesota being the others) yet to conform to the federal mandate.

West Virginia’s previous refusal to adhere to the standard cost the state $2.6 million in highway dollars when the Oct. 1 deadline passed. Next year, the loss will be $5.2 million, with the penalty growing to $10.5 million in the 2007 budget year.

States that adopt the new limit by Oct. 1, 2006, can recover the withheld funds.