Oklahoma lawmakers on Thursday gave final approval to a bill modeled after the controversial Texas abortion law, which allows private citizens to take civil action against abortion providers to enforce the law.
It's one of a number of bills passed this month by Oklahoma's legislature to restrict abortion rights and comes amid a movement by Republican-led states to severely curtail the procedure.
SB 1503 would also allow private citizens to bring a civil lawsuit against a person who performs or induces an abortion, intends to perform an abortion, or knowingly aids or abets an abortion, such as paying for the procedure. Under the bill, relief would include at least $10,000 in statutory damages for each abortion the defendant performed or aided in violation of the act, legal fees, and compensatory damages.
Earlier this month, Stitt signed a bill into law that makes performing an abortion illegal in the state, with an exception only in the case of a medical emergency. The law, which will take effect this summer, makes performing or attempting to perform an abortion a felony punishable by a maximum fine of $100,000 or a maximum of 10 years in state prison, or both.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood and the Tulsa Women's Reproductive Clinic, announced later Thursday that they had filed two separate challenges to SB 1503, the Texas-copycat bill, and SB 612, the near-total abortion ban signed by Stitt earlier this month, in an attempt to block them.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Oklahoma House Sends Texas-Style Abortion Ban To GovernorThe Oklahoma House has given final approval to a Texas-style abortion ban that prohibits abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy.
Read more »
Oklahoma Legislature sends Texas-style abortion ban to governorOklahoma House gives final approval to bill that prohibits abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy, before many women know they are pregnant.
Read more »
Oklahoma legislature passes 6-week abortion ban similar to Texas law
Read more »
Oklahoma lawmakers pass 6-week abortion ban modeled after Texas law that allows civil enforcementOklahoma lawmakers on Thursday gave final approval to a bill modeled after the controversial Texas abortion law, which allows private citizens to take civil action against abortion providers to enforce the law.
Read more »
Oklahoma House sends Texas-style abortion ban to governorA Texas-style abortion ban is heading to the Oklahoma Governor's desk. Gov. Stitt is expected to sign it, and if so, it will immediately go into effect due to the bill's emergency provision.
Read more »