Oklahoma ‘Choosing Childbirth Act’ (HB 1703)

HB 1703 would direct the State Department of Health to provide grants to a grant supervising entity for the purpose of reimbursing private organizations for program expenses that assist pregnant individuals to carry their children to term. Such organizations are often referred to as pregnancy resource centers or crisis pregnancy centers.

To be eligible to receive a grant, a private organization would be required to:

• be registered as a not-for-profit corporation in the state;
• have the grant amount approved by a grant-supervising entity;
• provide each pregnant person counseled with accurate information on the developmental characteristics of “unborn children”;
• assure that such that the grant’s sole purposes are to assist and encourage individual’s to carry their children to term and to “maximize their potentials” thereafter; and
• assure that none of the funds or services provided by the organization, are used to encourage or counsel a person to have an abortion not necessary to prevent their death, to provide them such an abortion or to refer them for such an abortion.

If passed, the law would take effect on November 1, 2017.

CPCs have come under increased scrutiny over the last several years, as investigations have revealed that centers across the country have provided inaccurate information and neglected to follow proper medical protocols. (Source.)

STATUS

Passed the house on March 21, 2017, by a 81-11 vote.

Passed the senate on April 27, 2017, by a 41-5 vote.

Signed by Gov. Mary Fallin (R) on May 19, 2017.

---

People