Gov. Brad Henry signed measures Monday to prevent women from getting abortions based on the gender of the fetus, require that only qualified physicians administer the RU-486 abortion pill and protect employees who refuse to participate in abortions.
A New York-based women’s rights group says it will wait until the end of the Oklahoma legislative session to determine whether it will challenge anti-abortion legislation.
Henry signed the three measures without comment.
Legislators are considering four other anti-abortion bills. All seven were included in two bills that legislators passed previously but were struck down by courts after legal challenges.
"We are disappointed that the governor signed these bills into law,” said Stephanie Toti, a staff attorney with the Center for Reproductive Rights.
The session is scheduled to end May 28.
Tony Lauinger, state chairman for Okahomans for Life, said the measures signed by Henry should pass legal muster.
"We feel confident that these bills will be upheld if they are challenged,” Lauinger said. "We believe they are absolutely constitutional. They help to underscore the importance of defending innocent human life in every way we are able to under the current U.S. Supreme Court rulings,” he said.
• Senate Bill 1890, which makes abortion on the account of the sex of the unborn child illegal. It revokes or suspends the license of any provider who violates this law.
• SB 1891, which creates the Freedom of Conscience Act. An employer cannot discriminate against an employee by refusing to accommodate that person’s religious beliefs as it pertains to abortion, human embryos, fetal transplants or euthanasia.
• SB 1902, which regulates the prescription of RU-486, or mifepristone, and its use in inducing an abortion. All three measures had enough support in the Legislature — at least two-thirds — that they contained what is known as an emergency clause, which allows the measures to take effect immediately.
The bills
The governor signed:
• Senate Bill 1890, which makes abortion on the account of the sex of the unborn child illegal. It revokes or suspends the license of any provider who violates this law.
• SB 1891, which creates the Freedom of Conscience Act. An employer cannot discriminate against an employee by refusing to accommodate that person’s religious beliefs as it pertains to abortion, human embryos, fetal transplants or euthanasia.
• SB 1902, which regulates the prescription of RU-486, or mifepristone, and its use in inducing an abortion. All three measures had enough support in the Legislature — at least two-thirds — that they contained what is known as an emergency clause, which allows the measures to take effect immediately.
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