Oklahoma 2022 Regular Session

Oklahoma Senate Bill SB1503 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

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4		-	An Act
5		-	ENROLLED SENATE
	29	+	HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - FLOOR VERSION
	30	+
	31	+	STATE OF OKLAHOMA
	32	+
	33	+	2nd Session of the 58th Legislature (2022)
	34	+
	35	+	ENGROSSED SENATE
6	36		BILL NO. 1503 By: Daniels and Jett of the
7	37		Senate
8	38
9	39		and
10	40
11		-	Russ ~~and Crosswhite Hader~~
12		-	~~of the House~~
	41	+	Russ of the House
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17	47		An Act relating to abortion; creating the Oklahoma
18	48		Heartbeat Act; defining terms; prohibiting
19	49		performance of abortion except under certain
20	50		conditions; requiring certain test to meet specified
21	51		criteria; requiring physician to record certain
22	52		information; prohibiting perfo rmance of abortion
23	53		under certain conditions; clarifying allowed con duct;
24	54		specifying effect of certain provisions; providing
25	55		exception for medical emergency; requiring physician
26	56		to record certain information; providing exception
27	57		for abortion performed at the behest of federal
28	58		entities; providing for and prohibiting certain
29	59		enforcement; allowing certain persons to bring
30	60		certain civil action; requiring and prohibiting
31	61		certain civil relief; establishing deadline for
32	62		filing of civil action; allowing and disallowing
33	63		certain defenses; prohibiting certain acts by
34	64		specified persons and e ntities; specifying
35	65		applicability of certain provisions; prohibiting
36	66		certain civil actions; authorizing and prohibiting
37	67		affirmative defense under certain conditions;
38	68		specifying venue for civil action; prohib iting
39	69		certain transfer of venue; granting specified
40	70		entities certain immunities; prohibiting certain
41	71		waiver of immunity; limiting jurisdiction of co urts;
42	72		establishing liability for court costs and attorney
43	73		fees; defining term; establishing statute of
44	74		limitation for bringing certain actions; prohibiting
45	75		use of certain defenses; providing for severability;
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46	103		expressing legislative intent and declarations;
47		-
48		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 1503 Page 2
49	104		providing for certain interpretation and enforcement;
50	105		providing certain construction; amending 12 O.S.
51	106		2021, Section 1439, which relates to the Oklahoma
52	107		Citizens Participation Act; adding exception;
53	108		amending 51 O.S. 2021, Section 255, which relates to
54	109		the Oklahoma Religious Freedom Act ; limiting
55	110		applicability of act; providing for codification; and
56	111		declaring an emergency.
57	112
58	113
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61	116
62		-	SUBJECT: Abortion
63		-
64	117		BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEO PLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
65		-
66	118		SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
67	119		in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1-745.31 of Title 63, unless
68	120		there is created a duplicati on in numbering, reads as follows:
69		-
70	121		This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Oklahoma
71	122		Heartbeat Act”.
72		-
73	123		SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
74	124		in the Oklahoma Stat utes as Section 1-745.32 of Title 63, unless
75	125		there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as fol lows:
76		-
77	126		As used in this act:
78		-
79	127		1. “Fetal heartbeat” means cardiac activity or the steady and
80	128		repetitive rhythmic contractio n of the fetal heart within the
81	129		gestational sac;
82		-
83	130		2. “Gestational age” means the amount of time that has elapsed
84	131		from the first day of a woman’s last menstrual period;
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85	158
86	159		3. “Gestational sac” means the structure comprising the
87	160		extraembryonic membranes that e nvelop the unborn child and that is
88	161		typically visible by ultrasound after the fourth week of pregnancy;
89		-
90		-
91		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 1503 Page 3
92	162		4. “Physician” means an individual licensed to practice
93	163		medicine in this state including a medical doctor and a doctor of
94	164		osteopathic medicine ;
95		-
96	165		5. “Pregnancy” means the human female reprodu ctive condition
97	166		that:
98		-
99	167		a. begins with fertiliza tion,
100		-
101	168		b. occurs when the woman is carrying the deve loping human
102	169		offspring, and
103		-
104	170		c. is calculated from the first day of the woman’s last
105	171		menstrual period;
106		-
107	172		6. “Standard medical practice” means the degree of skill, care,
108	173		and diligence that an obstetrician of ordinary judgment, learning,
109	174		and skill would employ in like circumstances;
110		-
111	175		7. “Unborn child” means a human fetus or embryo in any stage of
112	176		gestation from fertilizatio n until birth; and
113		-
114	177		8. “Woman” and “women” include any person whose biological sex
115	178		is female including any person with XX chromosomes and an y person
116	179		with a uterus, regardless of any gender identit y that the person
117	180		attempts to assert or claim .
118	181
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119	208		SECTION 3. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
120	209		in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1-745.33 of Title 63, unless
121	210		there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
122		-
123	211		A. For the purposes of determining the presence of a feta l
124	212		heartbeat under this section, “standard medical practice ” includes
125	213		employing the appropriate means of d etecting the heartbeat based on
126	214		the estimated gestational age of the unborn child and the condi tion
127	215		of the woman and her pregnancy.
128		-
129	216		B. Except as provided by Sections 5 and 6 of this act, an
130	217		abortion may not be performed or induced on a pregnant woman un less
131	218		a physician has determined, in acc ordance with this section, whether
132	219		the woman’s unborn child has a detectable fetal heartbeat.
133		-
134		-
135		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 1503 Page 4
136	220		C. In making a determination under subsection B of this
137	221		section, the physician must use a test that is:
138		-
139	222		1. Consistent with the physician’s good faith and reaso nable
140	223		understanding of standard medical practice; and
141		-
142	224		2. Appropriate for the estimated gestational age of the unbo rn
143	225		child and the condition of the pregnant wom an and her pregnancy.
144		-
145	226		D. A physician making a determina tion under subsection B of
146	227		this section shall record in the pregnant woman’s medical record:
147		-
148	228		1. The estimated gestational age of the unborn child;
149		-
150	229		2. The method used to estimate the gestational age; and
151		-
152	230		3. The test used for detecting a fetal heartbeat including the
153	231		date, time, and results of the test.
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154	258
155	259		SECTION 4. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
156	260		in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1-745.34 of Title 63, unless
157	261		there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
158		-
159	262		A. Except as provided by Sections 5 and 6 of this act, a
160	263		physician shall not knowingly perform o r induce an abortion on a
161	264		pregnant woman if the physician detected a fetal heartbeat for the
162	265		unborn child as required by Section 3 of this act or failed to
163	266		perform a test to detect a fetal heartbeat.
164		-
165	267		B. A physician shall not be in violation of this section if the
166	268		physician performed a test for a fetal heartbeat as required by
167	269		Section 3 of this act and did not detect a fetal heartbeat.
168		-
169	270		C. This section shall not affect any provision of state law
170	271		that regulates or prohibits abortion including but not limited to
171	272		any provision that restricts or regulates an abortion by a
172	273		particular method or during a particular sta ge of pregnancy.
173		-
174	274		SECTION 5. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
175	275		in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1-745.35 of Title 63, unless
176	276		there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
177		-
178		-
179		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 1503 Page 5
180	277		A. Sections 3 and 4 of this act shall not apply if a physi cian
181	278		believes a medical emergency exists that prevents complian ce with
182	279		this act.
183		-
184	280		B. A physician who performs or induces an abortion under
185	281		circumstances described by subsection A of this section shall make
186	282		written notations in the pr egnant woman’s medical record of:
187	283
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188	310		1. The physician’s belief that a medical emergency necessitated
189	311		the abortion; and
190		-
191	312		2. The medical condition of the pregnant woman that prevented
192	313		compliance with this act.
193		-
194	314		C. A physician performing or inducing an abortion under this
195	315		section shall maintain in the physi cian’s practice records a copy of
196	316		the notations made under subsection B of this section.
197		-
198	317		SECTION 6. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
199	318		in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1-745.36 of Title 63, unless
200	319		there is created a dupl ication in numbering, reads as follows:
201		-
202	320		Sections 3 and 4 of this act do not apply to an abortion
203	321		performed at the behest of federal agencies, contractors, or
204	322		employees that are carrying out duties under federal law, if a
205	323		prohibition on that abortion wou ld violate the doctrines of
206	324		preemption or intergovernmental immunity.
207		-
208	325		SECTION 7. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
209	326		in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1-745.37 of Title 63, unless
210	327		there is created a duplication in numb ering, reads as follows:
211		-
212	328		This act shall not be construed to:
213		-
214	329		1. Create or recognize a righ t to abortion before a fetal
215	330		heartbeat is detected;
216		-
217	331		2. Authorize the initiation of a cause of act ion against or the
218	332		prosecution of a woman on whom an abortion is performed or induced
219	333		or attempted to be perfo rmed or induced in violation of this act;
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221	360
222		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 1503 Page 6
223	361		3. Wholly or partly repeal, either expressly or by implication,
224	362		any other statute that regulates or prohi bits abortion; or
225		-
226	363		4. Restrict a political subd ivision from regulating or
227	364		prohibiting abortion in any manner.
228		-
229	365		SECTION 8. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
230	366		in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1-745.38 of Title 63, unless
231	367		there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
232		-
233	368		Notwithstanding any other law, the requirements of this act
234	369		shall be enforced exclusively through a private civil action
235	370		described in Section 9 of this act. No direct or indirect
236	371		enforcement of this act may be taken or threatened by the state, a
237	372		political subdivision, a district attorney, or an executive or
238	373		administrative officer or employee of this s tate or a political
239	374		subdivision against any person or entity, in any manner whatsoever ,
240	375		except as provided in Section 9 of this act, and no violation of
241	376		this act may be used to justify or trigger the enforcement of any
242	377		other law or any type of adverse consequence und er any other law,
243	378		except as provided in Section 9 of this act; provided, that this
244	379		section does not preclude enforcement of any other law or regulatio n
245	380		against conduct that is independently prohibited by such other law
246	381		or regulation.
247		-
248	382		SECTION 9. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
249	383		in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1-745.39 of Title 63, unless
250	384		there is created a duplicati on in numbering, reads as follows:
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251	411
252	412		A. Any person, other than the state, its political
253	413		subdivisions, and any officer or employee of a state or local
254	414		governmental entity in this state , may bring a civil action against
255	415		any person who:
256		-
257	416		1. Performs or induces an abortion in violation of this act;
258		-
259	417		2. Knowingly engages in conduct that aids or abets the
260	418		performance or inducement of an abortion including paying for or
261	419		reimbursing the costs of an abortion through insura nce or otherwise,
262	420		if the abortion is pe rformed or induced in violation of this act,
263	421		regardless of whether the person knew or should have known that the
264	422		abortion would be performed or induced in violation of this act; or
265		-
266		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 1503 Page 7
267		-
268	423		3. Intends to engage in the conduct described by paragraph 1 or
269	424		2 of this subsection.
270		-
271	425		B. If a claimant prevails in an action brought under this
272	426		section, the court shall a ward:
273		-
274	427		1. Injunctive relief sufficient to prevent the defendant from
275	428		violating this act or engaging in acts that aid or abet violations
276	429		of this act;
277		-
278	430		2. Statutory damages in an amount of not less than Ten Thousand
279	431		Dollars ($10,000.00) for each abortion tha t the defendant performed
280	432		or induced in violation of this act, and for each abortion performed
281	433		or induced in violation of this act that the defendant aided or
282	434		abetted;
283	435
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284	462		3. Nominal and compensatory damages if the plaintiff has
285	463		suffered harm from the defendant ’s conduct including but not limited
286	464		to loss of consortium and emotional distress ; and
287		-
288	465		4. Court costs and attorney fees.
289		-
290	466		C. Notwithstanding subsection B of this section, a court shall
291	467		not award relief under paragraphs 2 or 4 of subsection B of this
292	468		section in response to a violation of paragraph 1 or 2 of subsection
293	469		A of this section if the defendant demonstrates that a court has
294	470		already ordered the defendant to pay not less than Ten Thousand
295	471		Dollars ($10,000.00) of statutory damages as provided in paragraph 2
296	472		of subsection B of this section in a previous action for that
297	473		particular abortion performed or induced in violatio n of this act,
298	474		or for the particula r conduct that aided or abetted an abortion
299	475		performed or induced in violation of this act.
300		-
301	476		D. Notwithstanding any other law, a person may bring an action
302	477		under this section not later than six (6) years after the date the
303	478		cause of action accrues.
304		-
305	479		E. Notwithstanding any other law, the following are not a
306	480		defense to an action brought under this section:
307		-
308	481		1. Ignorance or mistake of law;
309		-
310		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 1503 Page 8
311		-
312	482		2. A defendant’s belief that the requirements of this act are
313	483		unconstitutional or were uncons titutional;
314		-
315	484		3. A defendant’s reliance on any court decision that has been
316	485		overruled on appeal or by a subsequent court, even if that court
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317	513		decision had not been overruled when the defendant engaged in
318	514		conduct that violates this act;
319		-
320	515		4. A defendant’s reliance on any state or federal c ourt
321	516		decision that is not binding on the court in which the action has
322	517		been brought;
323		-
324	518		5. Non-mutual issue preclusion or non-mutual claim preclusion;
325		-
326	519		6. The consent of the unborn child’s mother to the abortion; or
327		-
328	520		7. Any claim that the enforcement of this act or the imposition
329	521		of civil liability against the defendant will violate the
330	522		constitutional rights of th ird parties, except as provided by
331	523		Section 10 of this act.
332		-
333	524		F. 1. It is an affirmative defense if a person sued under
334	525		paragraph 2 or 3 of subsection A of this section reasonably
335	526		believed, after conducting a reasonable investigation, that the
336	527		individuals and organizations involved with performing or
337	528		facilitating the abortion would comply with this act.
338		-
339	529		2. The defendant has the burden of proving an affirmative
340	530		defense under paragraph 1 of this subsection by a preponderance of
341	531		the evidence.
342		-
343	532		G. This section shall not be construed to impose liability on
344	533		any speech or conduct protected by the First Amendment of the United
345	534		States Constitution, as made applicable to the states through t he
346	535		United States Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Fourteenth
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347	563		Amendment of the United States Constitution, or by Section 3 or 22
348	564		of Article II of the Oklahoma Constitution.
349		-
350	565		H. 1. Notwithstanding any other law, neither the state, nor
351	566		any of its political subdivisions, nor any district or county
352		-
353		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 1503 Page 9
354	567		attorney, nor any executive or administ rative officer or employee of
355	568		this state or a political subdivision may:
356		-
357	569		a. act in concert or participation with anyone who brings
358	570		suit under this section,
359		-
360	571		b. establish or attempt to establish any type of agency
361	572		or fiduciary relationship with a plaintiff who brings
362	573		suit under this section,
363		-
364	574		c. make any attempt to control or infl uence a plaintiff’s
365	575		decision to bring suit under this section or th e
366	576		plaintiff’s conduct of the lit igation, or
367		-
368	577		d. intervene in an action brought under this section.
369		-
370	578		2. This subsection shall not prohibit a person or entity
371	579		described by this subse ction from filing an amicus curiae brief in
372	580		the action, so long as that perso n or entity does not act in conc ert
373	581		or participation with the plaintiff or plaintiffs who sue under this
374	582		section or violate any provision of paragraph 1 of this subsection .
375		-
376	583		I. Notwithstanding any othe r law, a court shall not award court
377	584		costs or attorney fees to a defendant in an action brought under
378	585		this section.
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379	612
380	613		J. Notwithstanding any other law, a civil action unde r this
381	614		section shall not be subject to any provision of the Oklahoma
382	615		Citizens Participation Act, Section 1430 et seq. of Title 12 of the
383	616		Oklahoma Statutes, and shall not be subject to any provision of the
384	617		Oklahoma Religious Freedom Act, Section 251 et seq. of Title 51 of
385	618		the Oklahoma Statutes.
386		-
387	619		K. Notwithstanding any other law , a civil action under this
388	620		section shall not be brought:
389		-
390	621		1. Against the woman upon whom an abortion was performed or
391	622		induced or attempted to be performed or induced in violation of t his
392	623		act, or against a pregnant woman who intends or seeks to abort her
393	624		unborn child in violation of this act;
394		-
395		-
396		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 1503 Page 10
397	625		2. Against any person or entity that performs, aids or abets,
398	626		or attempts to perform or aid or abet an abortion at the behest of
399	627		federal agencies, contractors, or employees that are carrying out
400	628		duties under federal law, if a prohibition on that abortion would
401	629		violate the doctrines o f preemption or intergovernmental immunity;
402		-
403	630		3. Against any common carrier that transports a pregnant woman
404	631		to an abortion provider, if the common carrier is unaware that the
405	632		woman intends to abort her unborn child ; or
406		-
407	633		4. By a person who impregnated a woman seeking an abortion
408	634		through an act of rape, sexual assault, incest, or any other act
409	635		prohibited by state law .
410	636
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411	663		SECTION 10. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
412	664		in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1-745.40 of Title 63, unless
413	665		there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
414		-
415	666		A. 1. A defendant against whom an action is brought under
416	667		Section 9 of this act may assert an affirmative defense to liability
417	668		under this section if :
418		-
419	669		a. the defendant has standing to assert the rights of
420	670		women seeking an abortion under the tests for third-
421	671		party standing established by the United States
422	672		Supreme Court, and
423		-
424	673		b. the imposition of civil liability on the defendant
425	674		will result in an undue burden on a woman or group of
426	675		women seeking an abortion.
427		-
428	676		2. The defendant shall bear the burden of proving the
429	677		affirmative defense in this subsection by a preponderance of the
430	678		evidence.
431		-
432	679		B. The affirmative defense under subsection A of this section
433	680		shall not be available if the United States Supreme Court overrules
434	681		Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973) or Planned Parenthood v . Casey, 505
435	682		U.S. 833 (1992), regardless of whether the conduct on which the
436	683		cause of action is based under Section 9 of this act occurred before
437	684		the Supreme Court overruled eithe r of those decisions.
438		-
439		-
440		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 1503 Page 11
441	685		C. Nothing in this section or this act shall in any way limit
442	686		or preclude a defendant from asserti ng the defendant’s personal
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443	714		constitutional rights as a defense to liability un der Section 9 of
444	715		this act, and a court shall not award relief under Section 9 of this
445	716		act if the conduct for which the defendant has b een sued was an
446	717		exercise of state or federal constitutional rights that personally
447	718		belong to the defendant.
448		-
449	719		D. Nothing in this section or this act shall limit or preclude
450	720		a defendant from asserting the unconstitution ality of any provision
451	721		of this act as a defense to liability under Section 9 of this act.
452		-
453	722		SECTION 11. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
454	723		in the Oklahoma Stat utes as Section 1-745.41 of Title 63, unless
455	724		there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows :
456		-
457	725		A. Notwithstanding any other law, a civil action brought under
458	726		Section 9 of this act shall be brought in:
459		-
460	727		1. The county in which all or a substant ial part of the events
461	728		or omissions giving rise to the claim occurred;
462		-
463	729		2. The county of residence for any one of the natural person
464	730		defendants at the time the cause of action accrued;
465		-
466	731		3. The county of the principal office in this state of any one
467	732		of the defendants that is not a natural person; or
468		-
469	733		4. The county of residence for the claimant if the claimant i s
470	734		a natural person residing in this state.
471		-
472	735		B. If a civil action is brought under Section 9 of this act in
473	736		any one of the venues described by subsection A of this section, the
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474	764		action shall not be transferred to a different venue without the
475	765		written consent of all parties.
476		-
477	766		SECTION 12. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
478	767		in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1-745.42 of Title 63, unless
479	768		there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
480		-
481	769		A. Notwithstanding any other la w, this state has sovereign
482	770		immunity, a political subdivision has governmental immunity, and
483		-
484		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 1503 Page 12
485	771		each officer and employee of this st ate or a political sub division
486	772		has official immunity in any action, claim, counterclaim, or any
487	773		type of legal or equitable action that challenges the validity of
488	774		any provision or application of this act, on constitutional groun ds
489	775		or otherwise, or that seeks to prevent or enjoin the state, its
490	776		political subdivisions, or any officer or employee of this state or
491	777		a political subdivisi on from enforcing any provision or applicati on
492	778		of this act, unless that immunity has been abrogated or preempted by
493	779		federal law in a manner consistent with the Constitution of the
494	780		United States.
495		-
496	781		B. Notwithstanding any other law, no provision of state law may
497	782		be construed to waive or abrogate an immunity described by
498	783		subsection A of this section unless it expressly waives immunity
499	784		with specific reference to this section.
500		-
501	785		C. Notwithstanding any other law, no attorney representing this
502	786		state, a political subdivision, or any officer or employee of this
503	787		state or a political subdivision is authorized or permitted to waive
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504	815		an immunity described in subsection A or take any action that would
505	816		result in a waiver of that immunity.
506		-
507	817		D. Notwithstanding any other law, n o court of this state shall
508	818		have jurisdiction to consider any action, claim, or counterclaim
509	819		that seeks declaratory or injunctive relief to prevent this state, a
510	820		political subdivisio n, any officer or employee of this s tate or a
511	821		political subdivision, or any person from enforcing any provision or
512	822		application of this act, or from filing a civil action under this
513	823		act.
514		-
515	824		E. Nothing in this section or this act shall be construed to
516	825		prevent a litigant from asserting the invali dity or
517	826		unconstitutionality of any prov ision or application of this act as a
518	827		defense to any action, claim, or counterclaim brought against that
519	828		litigant.
520		-
521	829		SECTION 13. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
522	830		in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1-745.43 of Title 63, unless
523	831		there is created a duplication in numberi ng, reads as follows:
524		-
525	832		A. Notwithstanding any other law, any party including an
526	833		entity, attorney, or law firm, who seeks declaratory or injunctive
527		-
528		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 1503 Page 13
529	834		relief to prevent this state, a political subdivision, any
530	835		governmental entity or public official in this state, or any person
531	836		in this state from enforcing any statute, ordinance, rule,
532	837		regulation, or any other type of law that regulates or restricts
533	838		abortion or that limits taxpayer funding for individuals or entities
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534	866		that perform or promote abortions, in any state or federal court, or
535	867		that represents any litigant seeking such relief in any state or
536	868		federal court, shall be jointly and severally liable for court costs
537	869		and attorney fees of the prevailing party.
538		-
539	870		B. For purposes of this section, a party is considered a
540	871		prevailing party with respect to a claim or cause of action if a
541	872		state or federal court:
542		-
543	873		1. Dismisses that claim or cause of action brought against the
544	874		party that seeks the declaratory or injunctive relief described by
545	875		subsection A of this section, regardless of the reason for the
546	876		dismissal; or
547		-
548	877		2. Enters judgment in the part y’s favor on that claim or cause
549	878		of action.
550		-
551	879		C. Regardless of whether a prevailing party sought to recover
552	880		court costs or attorney fees in the underlying action, a prevailing
553	881		party under this section may bring a civil action to recover court
554	882		costs and attorney fees against a party including an entity,
555	883		attorney, or law firm, that sought declaratory or injunctive relief
556	884		described by subsection A of this section not later than three (3)
557	885		years after the date on which, as applicable:
558		-
559	886		1. The dismissal or judgment described by subsection B of this
560	887		section becomes final on the conclusion of appellate review; o r
	888	+	2. The time for seeking appellate re view expires.
561	889
562		-	2. The time for seeking appellate re view expires.
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563	915
564	916		D. It is not a defense to an action brought under subsection C
565	917		of this section that:
566		-
567	918		1. A prevailing party under this section failed to seek
568	919		recovery of court costs or attorney fees in the underlying a ction;
569		-
570		-
571		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 1503 Page 14
572	920		2. The court in the underlying action declined to recognize or
573	921		enforce the requirements of this section; or
574		-
575	922		3. The court in the underlying action held that any provisions
576	923		of this section are invalid, unconstitu tional, or preempted by
577	924		federal law, notwithstanding the doctrines of issue or claim
578	925		preclusion.
579		-
580	926		SECTION 14. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
581	927		in the Oklahoma Statutes a s Section 1-745.44 of Title 63, unless
582	928		there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
583		-
584	929		A. Mindful of Leavitt v. Ja ne L., 518 U.S. 137 (1996), in which
585	930		in the context of determining the severability of a state statute
586	931		regulating abortion the Supreme Court of the United States held that
587	932		an explicit statement of legislative intent i s controlling, it is
588	933		the intent of the Legislature that every provision, section,
589	934		subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or word in this act, and every
590	935		application of the provision s in this act to every person, group of
591	936		persons, or circumstances, are severa ble from each other.
592		-
593	937		B. If any application of any provision in this act to any
594	938		person, group of persons, or circumstances is found by a court to be
595	939		invalid, preempted, unconstitutional, or to impose an undue burden
	940	+
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596	967		on any woman or group of women seeking a n abortion, then the
597	968		remaining applications of that provision to all other persons and
598	969		circumstances shall be severed and preserved, and shall remain in
599	970		effect. All constitutionally valid applications of the provisions
600	971		in this act, and every application o f those provisions that can be
601	972		enforced without imposing an undue burden on women s eeking
602	973		abortions, shall be severed from any applications that a court finds
603	974		to be invalid, preempted, unconstitutional, or to impose an undue
604	975		burden on women seeking abortio ns, and the valid applications shall
605	976		remain in force, because it is the Legislature’s intent and priority
606	977		that every valid application be allowed to stand alone. Even if a
607	978		reviewing court finds a provision of this act to impose an undue
608	979		burden in a large or substantial fraction of relevant cas es, the
609	980		applications that do not present an undue burden shall be severed
610	981		from the remaining applications and shall remain in force, and sh all
611	982		be treated as if the Legislature had enacted a statute limited to
612	983		the persons, group of persons, or circumstances for which the
613	984		statute’s application does no t impose an undue burden.
614		-
615		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 1503 Page 15
616		-
617	985		C. The Legislature further declares that it would have enacted
618	986		this act, and each provision, section, subsect ion, sentence, clause,
619	987		phrase, or word, and all constitutional applications of the
620	988		provisions of this act, irrespective of the fact that any provision,
621	989		section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or word, or
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622	1017		applications of this act were to be declared invalid, preempted,
623	1018		unconstitutional, or to impose an undue burden.
624		-
625	1019		D. If any provision of this act is found by any cou rt to be
626	1020		unconstitutionally vague, then the applications of that provision
627	1021		that do not present c onstitutional vagueness problems shall be
628	1022		severed and remain in force, consis tent with the severability
629	1023		requirements of subsections A, B, and C of this section.
630		-
631	1024		E. No court may decline to enforce the severability
632	1025		requirements of subsections A, B, C, and D of this section on the
633	1026		ground that severance would “rewrite” the statute or involve the
634	1027		court in legislative or law making activity. A court that declines
635	1028		to enforce or enjoins a state official from enforcing a statutory
636	1029		provision does not rewrite a statute, as the statute continues to
637	1030		contain the same words as before the court ’s decision. A judicial
638	1031		injunction or declaration of unconstitutionality:
639		-
640	1032		1. Is nothing more than an edict prohibiting enforcement that
641	1033		may subsequently be vacated by a later court if that court has a
642	1034		different understanding of the requirements of the Oklahoma
643	1035		Constitution or United States Const itution;
644		-
645	1036		2. Is not a formal amendment of th e language in a statute; and
646		-
647	1037		3. No more rewrites a statute than a decision by the executive
648	1038		not to enforce a duly enacted statute in a limited and defined set
649	1039		of circumstances.
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650	1066
651	1067		F. If any state or federal court disregards the severability
652	1068		requirements of subsections A, B, C, D, and E of this section, and
653	1069		declares or finds any provision of this act facially
654	1070		unconstitutional, when there a re discrete applications of that
655	1071		provision that can be enforced against a pers on, group of persons,
656	1072		or circumstances witho ut violating federal law, the federal or state
657	1073		constitutions, or imposing an undue burden on women seeking
658		-
659		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 1503 Page 16
660	1074		abortions, then that provis ion shall be interpreted, as a matter o f
661	1075		state law, as if the Legislature had enacted a provision limited to
662	1076		the persons, group of persons, or circumstances for which the
663	1077		provision’s application will not violate federal law, the federal or
664	1078		state constitutions, or impose an undue burden on women seeking
665	1079		abortions, and every court sha ll adopt this saving construction of
666	1080		that provision until the court ruling that pronounced the provision
667	1081		facially unconstitutional is vacated or overruled.
668		-
669	1082		SECTION 15. AMENDATORY 12 O.S. 2021, Section 1439, is
670	1083		amended to read as fo llows:
671		-
672	1084		Section 1439. The Oklahoma Citizens Participation Act shall not
673	1085		apply to:
674		-
675	1086		1. An enforcement action that is brought in the name of this
676	1087		state or a political subdivision of this state by the Attorney
677	1088		General or a district attorney;
678		-
679	1089		2. A legal action brought against a person primarily engaged in
680	1090		the business of selling or leasing goods or services, if the
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681	1118		statement or conduct the action is based upon arises out of the sale
682	1119		or lease of goods, services, or an insu rance product, insurance
683	1120		services, or a commercial transaction in which the intende d audience
684	1121		is an actual or potential buyer or customer;
685		-
686	1122		3. A legal action seeking recovery for bodily in jury, wrongful
687	1123		death or survival or to statements made regarding tha t legal action;
688	1124		or
689		-
690	1125		4. A legal action brought under the Oklahoma Insurance Code or
691	1126		arising out of an insurance contract; or
692		-
693	1127		5. A civil action brought under Section 9 of this act .
694		-
695	1128		SECTION 16. AMENDATORY 51 O.S. 2021, Section 255, i s
696	1129		amended to read as follows:
697		-
698	1130		Section 255. A. Nothing in this act shall be constr ued to:
699		-
700	1131		1. Authorize any government entity to substantially burden any
701	1132		religious belief;
702		-
703		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 1503 Page 17
704		-
705	1133		2. Authorize same sex marriages, unions, or the equivalent
706	1134		thereof; or
707		-
708	1135		3. Affect, interpret, or in any way address those portions of
709	1136		Article 1, Section 2, and Artic le 2, Section 5, of the Constitution
710	1137		of the State of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Religious Freedom Act, or the
711	1138		First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States that
712	1139		prohibit laws respecting the establishment of religion.
713		-
714	1140		B. Granting governmental funds, benefits, or exemptions to the
715	1141		extent permissible under paragraph 3 of subsection A of this section
	1142	+
	1143	+	SB1503 HFLR Page 23
	1144	+	BOLD FACE denotes Committee Amendments. 1
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	1168	+
716	1169		shall not constitute a violation of this section. As used in this
717	1170		subsection, “granting government funds, bene fits, or exemptions”
718	1171		shall not include the d enial of government funding, benefits, or
719	1172		exemptions. This provision does not in and of itself require
720	1173		vouchers.
721		-
722	1174		C. A civil action brough t under Section 9 of this act shal l not
723	1175		be subject to any provision of th e Oklahoma Religious Freedom Act .
724		-
725	1176		SECTION 17. It being immediately necessary for the pr eservation
726	1177		of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
727	1178		declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
728	1179		be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
729	1180
730		-
731		-	ENR. S. B. NO. 1503 Page 18
732		-	Passed the Senate the 10th day of March, 2022.
733		-
734		-
735		-
736		-	Presiding Officer of the Senate
737		-
738		-
739		-	Passed the House of Representatives the 28th day of April, 2022.
740		-
741		-
742		-
743		-	Presiding Officer of the House
744		-	of Representatives
745		-
746		-	OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
747		-	Received by the Office of the Governor this _______ _____________
748		-	day of _________________ __, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
749		-	By: _______________________________ __
750		-	Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this _____ ____
751		-	day of _________________ __, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
752		-
753		-	_________________________________
754		-	Governor of the State of Oklahoma
755		-
756		-
757		-	OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
758		-	Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this _______ ___
759		-	day of __________________, 20 _______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
760		-	By: _______________________________ __
	1181	+	COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH, dated 04/06/2022 -
	1182	+	DO PASS.