The Oklahoma Senate Health and Human Services Committee advanced five pro-life bills on February 3, and rejected one bill which would have classified abortion as an act of homicide. The approved bills will move to the Senate floor for discussion and a vote.
Senate Bill 495, introduced by Sen. Warren Hamilton (R) was voted down unanimously by all 10 committee members. SB 495 would have outlawed abortion in the state, deeming it a homicide and stating that no conflicting federal regulations, executive orders, federal statutes, or court decisions could block it. It would have granted preborn children protection under state law and would have allowed relatives of any aborted child (excluding any who had a coercive role in the child’s death) to recover wrongful death damages.
The remaining five pro-life bills all passed the committee on party line votes.
READ: Sen. Rand Paul introduces pro-life bills to defund Planned Parenthood and protect the preborn
Senate Bill 918 aims to outlaw abortion in Oklahoma, but would only go into effect in the event that Roe v. Wade is overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. Under this bill, a person convicted of committing an abortion would face two to five years in prison.
Senate Bill 584 would strip state Medicaid funding from health providers who partake in the sales of body parts from aborted children.
Senate Bill 612 would outlaw abortion except when the mother’s life is a risk, though intentionally killing a preborn child is never truly medically necessary. If a person is convicted of carrying out or attempting to carry out an abortion, he or she would be guilty of a felony punishable by a fine of up to $100,000 and up to 10 years in prison.
Senate Bill 778 aims to place new restrictions on how the abortion pill is prescribed. It would require a “qualified physician” to examine the woman in person prior to prescribing the abortion pill. The physician would also be required to verify that the woman is pregnant, determine her blood type and if she is Rh-negative, and to administer RhoGAM at the time of the abortion if she is Rh-negative. Not doing so could cause her to lose the ability to have children in the future. The physician would also be required to document the gestational age of the preborn child.
Senate Bill 779 would require the State Board of Pharmacy to establish certification requirements for manufacturers and distributors of abortion-inducing drugs. An audit would be required of newly certified manufacturers and distributors within 90 days of certification and annually thereafter to ensure all procedures are in place. Non-compliance would result in immediate suspension of the certification.
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