Relating to authorizing the Board of Risk and Insurance Management to promulgate a legislative rule relating to mine subsidence insurance.
Summary
HB 4202 authorizes the Board of Risk and Insurance Management (BRIM) to promulgate a legislative rule governing mine subsidence insurance. In practical terms, the bill is a rule-authorizing measure rather than a substantive rewrite of insurance law; it gives BRIM the authority to adopt administrative rules on how mine subsidence insurance is administered, regulated, or implemented in West Virginia.
Because the bill text is not available here, the precise details of the rule are not shown, but the caption indicates the subject is mine subsidence insurance, which typically concerns damage to property caused by underground mine collapse or shifting ground. The bill appears to be part of the legislature’s process for reviewing and authorizing agency rules, allowing BRIM to proceed with rulemaking in this area.
Impact
The bill’s main legal effect is to authorize BRIM to promulgate a legislative rule on mine subsidence insurance, which can affect how the agency administers coverage, claims, eligibility, premiums, or related procedures under existing insurance law. It does not, based on the available information, directly amend the underlying insurance statutes; instead, it enables administrative rulemaking that may fill in operational details for property owners, insurers, and regulated parties in mining-affected areas.
Sentiment
With no committee transcript or recorded votes provided, the available context suggests a routine, technical measure rather than a controversial policy bill. The caption and legislative posture indicate the bill is likely intended to facilitate agency rulemaking, which often receives limited debate unless the underlying rule changes coverage or costs in a significant way.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. If concerns were raised, they would most likely involve the scope of BRIM’s authority, the effect of the rule on insurance availability or premiums, or how mine subsidence claims are handled for affected property owners and insurers. However, there is no evidence in the supplied record of organized opposition or disputed provisions.