The Oklahoma Supreme Court has upheld a judge's ruling striking down an omnibus abortion bill from 2009 by saying they couldn't be compiled into one measure. However, the state legislature is moving the bills ahead this year with separate measures that should overcome the ruling.
UPDATE 6/1/10: Summary of Oklahoma abortion legislation (by AP at CNN)
-- From "Senate Approves Three Pro-Life Bills" Written by Staff Report, Tulsa Today 3/11/10
The full Senate has reaffirmed three pieces of legislation aimed at protecting the rights of the unborn in Oklahoma and the health of Oklahoma women. Senate Bill 1890, by Sen. Todd Lamb, R-Edmond, would prohibit the performance of an abortion due to the sex of the unborn child. Lamb said his measure and two others approved by the Senate on Wednesday were approved with bipartisan support.
“These bills were each approved previously by the Legislature, but were prevented from taking effect due to a court ruling that they violated Oklahoma’s Constitution regarding single-subjects for legislation,” said Lamb, Senate Majority Floor Leader. “We believed then and believe now these provisions reflect the values of our state, and have successfully reaffirmed them in the Senate as individual measures.”
Senate Bill 1891, by Sen. Anthony Sykes, R-Moore, would create the Freedom of Conscience Act to permit an individual to refuse to participate in activities involving abortions, human embryos, fetal tissue or assisted suicide.
Senate Bill 1902, by Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, regulates the administration of RU-486, also known as the abortion pill.
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From "Oklahoma Supreme Court Affirms Ruling on 2009 Abortion Bill, New Bills Coming" by Steven Ertelt, LifeNews.com Editor 3/4/10
On Wednesday, the state's high court upheld the February ruling of a state District Court that a pro-life state law not yet enacted is unconstitutional.
Both courts found the law to be unconstitutional on the basis that the law violates state rules requiring that legislation address only a single subject.
The law would have prohibited sex-selective abortions and required doctors to fill out a 10-page questionnaire about the circumstances of the abortion. Survey responses would then be sent to the state health department for publication online.
The state Supreme Court wrote in their opinion, "We are growing weary of admonishing the Legislature for so flagrantly violating the terms of the Oklahoma Constitution. It is a waste of time for the Legislature and the Court, and a waste of the taxpayers' money."
This week, the Oklahoma House, on an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote, approved a bill 87-7 that now goes to the state Senate for consideration.
The bill requires allowing a mother considering an abortion a chance to view an ultrasound one hour prior to the abortion. The abortion practitioner must explain the development of the unborn child and ensure the woman can see the ultrasound images.
House Bill 2780, by Rep. Lisa Billy, expands on pro-life legislation passed in 2006 that required abortion practitioners to provide helpful information to women.
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