ARKANSAS, USA — After Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a bill into law making it illegal to perform an abortion in the state, Planned Parenthood is discussing how this will affect its clinics and their clients.
"We don't want to allow abortions in the state of Oklahoma," Gov. Stitt said.
Senate Bill 612, signed into law Tuesday, April 13, can convict anyone of performing an abortion and will make them face up to 10 years in prison along with a $100,000 fine. It does not authorize criminal charges against a woman for receiving an abortion though. The only exception to the bill is for an abortion to be performed to save the life of the mother.
"The law just signed by the governor, is a near total ban," said Emily Wales, Interim President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains.
The Oklahoma Senate also considers the bill to be modeled after the controversial Texas Heart Beat Bill.
Oklahoma and Arkansas have already seen an increase of more than 500 patients since Texas' law passed. Planned Parenthood says the Natural State can soon expect an increase in the number of abortions in Arkansas as many travel from neighboring states like Texas and now possibly Oklahoma.
"We have been providing more care to Texans in Arkansas than our usual patient load. Since September, Texans have been scrambling to find care," Wales said.
The Oklahoma bill will take effect at the end of August but is still dependent on what the U.S. Supreme Court decides.
Arkansas' abortion ban, signed into law in March 2021, makes abortion illegal at all stages but was put on hold by a district court until July.
"Unless it was a medical emergency to save the life of the pregnant person. Which is an extremely narrow exception," said Jill Lens a Robert A. Leflar, Professor of Law. "We're all just sort of waiting. Waiting to see what happens."
Any decision made by the Supreme Couty concerning Roe V. Wade will affect these state laws by:
- If upheld, Oklahoma's ban will likely be deemed unconstitutional.
- If overturned, Arkansas' ban will likely go into effect immediately.
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