"Too often, sex offenders fake a parent's signature to use abortion as a cover up for abuse, and for too long, the abortion industry has turned a blind eye to crimes committed by evil men, as they profit from the cover up," said AUL's Dr. Charmaine Yoest

Contact: Kristi Hamrick, Americans United for Life, 202-289-1478, press@aul.org

WASHINGTON,  June 5, 2015 /Standard Newswire/ -- Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin signed into a law a groundbreaking, pro-life measure that passed with tremendous bi-partisan support and will expand the enforcement options for any violation of state abortion laws as well as provide greater protections for young girls who become victims of sexual abuse.

Oklahoma SB 642 is based on parts of two pieces of Americans United for Life model legislation. The new law provides broad criminal and civil penalties for any violation of the abortion code. It also specifically works to ensure that a young girl's parents or guardians authorize an abortion, rather than a sex offender using abortion to cover up a crime by falsifying parental consent, and requires that fetal remains be sent to the proper authorities so they have the tools to prosecute sex offenders.

Sponsored by Senator Greg Treat and Representative Randy Grau, the law passed the House with a vote of 70 to 5 and passed the Senate with a vote of 40 to 5, both votes occurring late last month.

"This new law ensures that any violation of the state's abortion laws is treated with the gravity it is due," said AUL President and CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest. "Additionally, this innovative law represented AUL's ground-breaking, mother-child strategy that puts the interests of mothers, especially young mothers, and their unborn children ahead of the desires of sex offenders and abortionists," said Dr. Yoest. "Too often, sex offenders fake a parent's signature to use abortion as a cover up for abuse, and for too long, the abortion industry has turned a blind eye to crimes committed by evil men, as they profit from the cover up. Oklahoma is setting an example for other states on how to protect young girls by involving the people who love them and holding sex offenders accountable by preserving what they tried to hide."

The new law:

• Provides that anyone violating any of the state's abortion laws is guilty of a felony and can be subject to a civil penalty or fine of up to $100,000 per day.
   
• Provides criminal and civil penalties for any person causing/aiding a minor to obtain an abortion without parental consent.
   
• Requires abortionists who perform an abortion on a minor who is less than 14 years old to preserve the fetal tissue and send it to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. If the abortionist does not follow these rules, it will be considered a felony. This provision protects young girls from sexual crimes, as Health and Human Services (HHS) has found that 75 percent of girls under the age of 14 who have had sex report having a forced sexual experience. This provision also provides the State of Oklahoma with the tools necessary for successful investigations and prosecutions.
   
• Requires the State Board of Health to conduct pre-licensure and re-licensure inspections for abortion facilities in the state, including on-site clinic inspections and provides enforcement authority for abortion clinics which violate these standards through civil penalties or fines.

For more on the innovative laws in AUL's Women's Protection Project, click here.

To learn more about the health risks of abortion for women, click here.

Americans United for Life (AUL) is the legal architect of the pro-life movement. We are accumulating victories, building momentum, and advancing a culture of life in America. Our vision is a nation in which everyone is welcomed in life and protected in law. The first national pro-life organization in America, AUL has been committed to defending human life since 1971.