Gov. Kevin Stitt has signed the Oklahoma Heartbeat Act which would allow a private civil action to be brought against anyone performing an abortion after a fetal heartbeat has been detected, except in a medical emergency.

Senate Bill 1503 by Rep. Todd Russ, R-Cordell, and Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, allows any citizen to bring a $10,000 lawsuit against anyone they believe has performed or induced an abortion, or anyone who aids and abets an abortion. The woman receiving the abortion would not be subject to the civil action.

Russ said, “This measure goes further in allowing civil penalties to be brought against abortion providers. Combined with other Oklahoma statutes now on the books, it is hoped the practice of abortion will cease in our state for all time. We will continue our work until that is accomplished.”

It is estimated that between 3,000 and 5,000 babies are aborted each year in Oklahoma, and more than 62 million abortions have been performed nationwide since Roe v. Wade was enacted in 1973. SB1503 was modeled after successful legislation in Texas that has not been overturned in court.

“Senate Bill 1503 is about saving innocent lives.  The Texas law has already accomplished this, and we can save the lives of unborn children with this law in Oklahoma as well,” Daniels said.

Several Oklahoma faith leaders added comments praising the passage of SB1503.

Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, “Our sincere gratitude goes to Representatives Wendi Stearman and Todd Russ, as well as Senator Julie Daniels, for their leadership on the passage of these bills.“

SB1503 passed the House with a vote of 68 to 12. It is the strongest pro-life legislation in the United States actually upheld by the United States Supreme Court.

Stitt last year signed into law House Bill 2441 by Russ and Daniels, which stops abortions from being performed once an unborn child is determined to have a detectable heartbeat. The measure allows for abortion only if a medical emergency exists that threatens the life of the mother. It requires reasonable medical judgment to determine that a mother has a condition that so complicates her medical condition that it necessitates the abortion of her pregnancy to avert her death or serious or irreparable physical harm to her.

Stitt this year also signed Senate Bill 612 into law, which has been called the most extensive abortion ban in the nation. That bill would make abortion illegal in the state except in cases where it is the only option to save the life of the mother. The bill would punish physicians performing an abortion with a $100,000 fine and they would face a 10-year prison sentence. The bill does not punish the mother.