Motorists ignoring school bus stops signs and warning lights face stiffer penalties under a bill passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Democratic Senator Ron Stollings of Boone County is a Judiciary Committee member. He says there is a reason school buses are painted yellow. Motorists should exercise extreme caution around them and pay close attention whenever a bus stops and children are present.

Already unanimously approved by the House of Delegates, the measure now before the Senate is called "Haven's Law" in memory of 6-year old Haven McCarthy. The Lincoln County girl was struck and killed by a car in December 2007 as she was getting off of her school bus.

Democrat Jeff Kessler of Marshall County is the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He says children are West Virginia's most precious resource and must be protected. Kessler adds that when parents send their kids off to school they expect and deserve to have them return home safely every day.

A similar measure stalled last year in the Senate Education Committee, chaired by Wayne County's Robert Plymale. That left the fate of this bill up in the air but strong support from Stollings, Kessler and Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin made the difference. Tomblin says it hits especially close to home for him because he represents Lincoln County.

Tomblin says he's hopeful the bill serves to protect West Virginia schoolchildren so no other family has to deal with the same type of tragedy the McCarthy's face every day.

Should the legislature approve the measure, West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin has already signaled his support.

Tomblin says the bill is scheduled for a third reading and final Senate vote on Saturday, which is the last day of the regular session.

If it passes, it would then go back to the House, where delegates would have to approve the upper chamber's amendments.

Sources tell Eyewitness News that if nothing unexpected crops up the bill will face little opposition.