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New Abortion Bills

By AP

Oklahoma City, OK – Oklahoma governor signs 2 abortion bills

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Republican Gov. Mary Fallin has signed a pair of bills intended to further restrict abortion in Oklahoma.

Flanked by more than 30 lawmakers, Fallin on Wednesday signed a bill that makes it a felony crime for doctors to perform abortions after a woman reaches 20 weeks of pregnancy. The legislation is called the "Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act" and is based on the premise that a fetus can experience pain after 20 weeks.

The law includes an exemption for abortions performed when the life of the mother is at risk or if there is a risk of physical impairment of a "major bodily function."

The second bill prohibits health insurance plans in Oklahoma offered under the new federal health care law from offering coverage for elective abortions.