It is one of many bills passed this month by the Oklahoma Legislature to restrict abortion rights, and comes amid a move by Republican-led states to severely restrict the process.
The Oklahoma Heart Rate Act, Senate Bill 1503, will ban abortions at a time when a doctor can detect early heartbeat in an embryo or fetus, which could be six weeks after pregnancy – before many women even realize that they are pregnant. The measure provides for exceptions for medical emergencies. The State Senate later Thursday also passed House 4327, similar to SB 1503, which allows private citizens to file civil lawsuits against abortion providers. However, Bill 4327 will prohibit abortions at any time during pregnancy, except for medical emergencies or if the pregnancy is the result of rape, sexual violence or incest and has been reported to law enforcement. The proposal, which was amended by the Senate and passed by 35 to 10 votes, will need approval from the House before it can be sent to the governor.
SB 1503 will also allow individuals to file a civil lawsuit against a person who performs or causes an abortion, intends to perform an abortion, or knowingly assists or promotes abortion, such as paying for the procedure. Under the bill, the relief will include at least $ 10,000 in legal compensation for each abortion the defendant has performed or assisted in violation of the law, court fees and compensatory damages.
The bill will ban civil claims against certain individuals, including a woman who has had an abortion or requested the procedure. The bill will also prohibit a person who has conceived a woman through rape, sexual violence or incest from filing a civil lawsuit.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Steet, a Republican, has promised to sign any law restricting abortion that reaches his office. Once signed, the bill will take effect immediately. CNN turned to the governor’s office for comment.
Earlier this month, Stew signed a bill that makes abortion illegal in the state, except in the case of emergency medical care. The law, which will take effect this summer, makes committing or attempting to have an abortion a crime punishable by a maximum fine of $ 100,000 or a maximum of 10 years in prison, or both.
Oklahoma State Representative Todd Russ, who backed the bill in the House of Representatives, told CNN earlier that if the nearly complete ban, signed earlier this month, is appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, his bill could still remain in effect, noting that the Supreme Court has allowed Texas law to take effect.
The bill passed the Republican House by a Republican majority on Thursday by 68 votes to 12. The Republican-led State Senate approved the measure last month with 33 votes to 11.
Planned Parenthood said it would go to court to end the latest ban. Emily Wells, interim president of Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes, told CNN that the so-called heart rate bill is “more concerned in many ways” than an almost total ban, in part because it was modeled after the Texas law that abortion providers and defenders are struggling to block.
Oklahoma is the last state to pass legislation similar to Texas, after Idaho became the first state last month to pass a law similar to the Texas charter. However, Idaho law has been temporarily blocked by the state’s Supreme Court in a lawsuit filed by abortion providers.
This story was updated with additional developments on Thursday.
CNN’s Rebecca Rhys contributed to this report.
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