Signed by Governor Mary Fallin

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that amends standards for abortion facilities, effective November 1, 2014.

Highlights:

• Requires the State Board of Health to establish certain standards for abortion facilities including, but not limited to, the following standards (Sec. 1):
• An abortion facility must have ultrasound equipment; 
• An abortion facility must perform annual checks to ensure that all equipment meets federal standards; and
• An abortion facility must specify that the equipment and supplies needed for the procedure and for monitoring the patient during the procedure and post-procedure recovery time.  

• Requires an abortion facility to have a physician, who has admitting privileges at a general medical surgical hospital which offers obstetrical or gynecological care within 30 miles of the facility, to remain on the premises of the facility while an abortion procedure is taking place to facilitate the transfer of emergency cases if hospitalization of the patient or of the fetus born alive is necessary until “all abortion patients are stable and ready to leave the recovery room” (Sec. 1). 

• Requires the State Board of Health to establish standards relating to the following (Sec. 1):
• Standards relating to the medical screening and evaluation of each abortion patient; and
• Standards relating to the performance of the abortion procedure and post-procedure follow-up care; 
• Standards relating to the training of licensed physician assistants in counseling, “patient advocacy”, and specific medical services; and
• Standards relating to the training of volunteers at abortion facilities, including counseling and “patient advocacy.” 

• Classifies a violation of the abortion facilities provisions of this bill as a felony, punishable by a fine of up to $25,000 (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that amends standards for abortion facilities, effective November 1, 2014.

Highlights:

• Requires the State Board of Health to establish certain standards for abortion facilities including, but not limited to, the following standards (Sec. 1):
• An abortion facility must have ultrasound equipment; 
• An abortion facility must perform annual checks to ensure that all equipment meets federal standards; and
• An abortion facility must specify that the equipment and supplies needed for the procedure and for monitoring the patient during the procedure and post-procedure recovery time.  

• Requires an abortion facility to have a physician, who has admitting privileges at a general medical surgical hospital which offers obstetrical or gynecological care within 30 miles of the facility, to remain on the premises of the facility while an abortion procedure is taking place to facilitate the transfer of emergency cases if hospitalization of the patient or of the fetus born alive is necessary until “all abortion patients are stable and ready to leave the recovery room” (Sec. 1). 

• Requires the State Board of Health to establish standards relating to the following (Sec. 1):
• Standards relating to the medical screening and evaluation of each abortion patient; and
• Standards relating to the performance of the abortion procedure and post-procedure follow-up care; 
• Standards relating to the training of licensed physician assistants in counseling, “patient advocacy”, and specific medical services; and
• Standards relating to the training of volunteers at abortion facilities, including counseling and “patient advocacy.” 

• Classifies a violation of the abortion facilities provisions of this bill as a felony, punishable by a fine of up to $25,000 (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits nontherapeutic research on human embryos and establishes standards for an abortion facility, effective November 1, 2014.

Highlights:

• Prohibits any individual from conducting “nontherapeutic research” that “destroys” a “human embryo” or subjects a “human embryo” to “substantial risk” of injury or death (Sec. 3).

• Defines “human embryo” as a living organism at the earliest stages of development, including the single-celled stage (Sec. 3).

• Defines “nontherapeutic research” as research that is not intended to help preserve the life and health of the particular embryo (Sec. 3). 

• Specifies that nontherapeutic research does not include the following (Sec. 3):
• In vitro fertilization and embryo transfer to the body of a female; or 
• Any diagnostic test which may assist in the future care of a child subjected to the embryonic tests.

• Prohibits any individual from using cells or tissues that the individual “knows” were obtained by performing activities in violation of the human embryo provisions of this bill (Sec. 3). 

• Prohibits any individual from transferring a human embryo “with the knowledge” that the embryo will be subjected to nontherapeutic research (Sec. 3).

• Classifies a violation of the human embryo provisions of this bill as a felony, punishable as follows (Sec. 3):
• Incarceration for a term of at least 1 year; and 
• A fine of at least $100,000.

• Requires the State Board of Health to establish certain standards for abortion facilities including, but not limited to, the following standards (Sec. 1):
• An abortion facility must have ultrasound equipment; 
• An abortion facility must perform annual checks to ensure that all equipment meets federal standards; and
• An abortion facility must specify that the equipment and supplies needed for the procedure and for monitoring the patient during the procedure and post-procedure recovery time.

• Requires an abortion facility to have a physician, who has admitting privileges at an accredited hospital within 30 miles of the facility, to remain on the premises of the abortion facility while an abortion procedure is taking place to facilitate the transfer of emergency cases if hospitalization of the patient or of the fetus born alive is necessary until “all abortion patients are stable and ready to leave the recovery room” (Sec. 1).

• Requires the State Board of Health to establish standards relating to the following (Sec. 1):
• Standards relating to the medical screening and evaluation of each abortion patient; and
• Standards relating to the performance of the abortion procedure and post-procedure follow-up care; 
• Standards relating to the training of licensed physician assistants in counseling, “patient advocacy”, and specific medical services; and
• Standards relating to the training of volunteers at abortion facilities, including counseling and “patient advocacy.”

• Classifies a violation of the abortion facilities provisions of this bill as a felony, punishable by a fine of up to $25,000 (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends standards for abortion facilities, effective November 1, 2014.

Highlights:

• Requires the State Board of Health to establish supplies and equipment standards for abortion facilities, including, but not limited to, the following standards (Sec. 1):
• An abortion facility must have ultrasound equipment; 
• An abortion facility must perform annual checks in order to ensure that all equipment meets federal standards; and
• An abortion facility must specify the required equipment, supplies and medication needed for the performance of abortion procedures and for monitoring the patient throughout the procedure and the post-procedure recovery time.        

• Requires the abortion facility to have a physician, with admitting privileges at an accredited hospital within 30 miles of the facility, present on their premises from the time the patient has the procedure until the patient is ready to leave the recovery room (Sec. 1).

• Requires the State Board of Health to establish standards relating to training in counseling, patient advocacy and specific medical services for licensed physician assistants (Sec. 1).

• Requires the State Board of Health to establish standards related to the training of volunteers at abortion facilities (Sec. 1).

• Classifies a violation of this bill as a felony with a punishment of a fine up to $25,000 (Sec. 1).