Five more pro-life bills could pass this session

CapitolBeatOK Staff Report

Published: 12-Apr-2010

Five pro-life bills could be voted on in the Oklahoma state Senate any day now, perhaps by Thursday. Anthony Lauinger of Oklahomans for Life, one of the strongest bi-partisan activist groups at the state Capitol, has asked his supports to encourage members to support “these critically important bills.”

House Bill 2780, sponsored by state Rep. Lisa Billy of Lindsay and Sen. Anthony Sykes of Moore, would provide a woman an ultrasound of the  unborn child she is carrying. Supporters say providing a woman with all available information would allow her to make an informed decision before giving her consent “to this irrevocable act.”

House Bill 3284, sponsored by state Rep. Pam Peterson of Tulsa and Sen. Clark Jolley of Edmond, provides for reporting of abortions, the reasons they are sought and any complications that result. House Bill 2656, sponsored by Rep. Dan Sullivan of Tulsa and Brian Crain of Tulsa, would disallow wrongful life lawsuits.

Advocates say that House Bill 3075, by state Rep. Rebecca Hamilton of Oklahoma City and state Sen. Ron Justice of Chickasha, puts in place requirements to ensure consent to abortion is voluntary, safeguarding against coerced abortions.

The foregoing bills are all the result of legislative efforts to overcome controversial judicial decisions striking down two pro-life bills that were alleged to have violated the “single-subject” restriction in state law.

A more recently developed proposal has been prompted by last month’s passage of the federal health care law. This bill is also pending in the state Senate. The measure, House Bill 3290, builds on a provision in the new health care bill that allows states to opt out of abortion coverage in state-based insurance “exchanges.”

Already through the Legislature and signed into law are bills to prohibit sex selection abortion, protect rights of conscience for health care workers, and regulate administration of RU-486, an abortafacient. 

Note: Editor Patrick B. McGuigan contributed to this story.