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State Capitol Watch: Personhood bill moves to House Committee today

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — State lawmakers are considering legislation that would grant "personhood" status to human embryos.

Members of the Oklahoma House's Public Health Committee are scheduled to debate and vote Tuesday on the Senate-passed measure.

The bill provides embryos and fetuses "all the rights, privileges and immunities" of other citizens. Supporters say it's modeled after a 1986 Missouri law that the U.S. Supreme Court has said is constitutional.

Abortion-rights supporters oppose the measure and say government should not interfere in the lives of its citizens.

It is also opposed by the Oklahoma State Medical Association because it could affect reproductive medicine and ban certain forms of birth control.

A petition drive is under way to put a personhood measure on the November ballot. At least 22 states are pushing similar personhood measures.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.