Legislative Staff Release
Published: 05-Mar-2011
Legislative Staff Release
Published 04-Mar-2011
Legislation approved by a House committee would expand the legal definition of a person to include unborn children.
House Bill 1571, by state Rep. Steve Vaughan, defines a person as a “human being at all stages of human development of life, including the state of fertilization or conception, regardless of age, health, level of functioning, or condition of dependency.” The legislation also states that “All persons are created free and have inalienable rights.”
“I believe that a majority of Oklahomans believe in the sanctity of life, but we in the Legislature have not yet been bold enough to take a stand to say when life starts,” Vaughan, R-Ponca City, said. “Now that this legislation has passed out of committee, lawmakers will have an opportunity to take that stance.”
This week, H.B. 1571 was approved by a vote of 8-3 in the House Public Health Committee and now awaits consideration by the full House.
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