Oklahoma House committee passes measure to outlaw embryonic stem cell research

Abortions now are allowed up to 24 weeks; after that they can be provided because of serious health issues.

The House of Representatives Public Health Committee passed House Bill 1442 by a 6-5 vote. It now goes to the full House.

A similar measure passed the Republican-controlled Legislature two years ago but was vetoed by then-Gov. Brad Henry, a Democrat.

Gov. Mary Fallin, elected in November, is a Republican.

“This legislation simply makes it illegal to create unborn children with the intent of killing them for research purposes,” said Rep. George Faught, R-Muskogee, the bill's author.

HB 1442 would make it illegal to “intentionally or knowingly conduct destructive research on a human embryo” or to “buy, sell, receive, or otherwise transfer a human embryo with the knowledge that such embryo shall be subjected to destructive research.”