The Oklahoma House has approved legislation requiring abortion providers to have clinical privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of their practice.
The House voted 73-9 for the measure Thursday and sent it to the Senate for consideration. It is one of several anti-abortion measures filed in the 2014 Oklahoma Legislature.
The measure author, Republican Rep. Mike Ritze of Broken Arrow, says it is designed to protect unborn children and women who may develop medical complications during an abortion.
But opponents say the legislation is identical to bills that have been struck down as unconstitutional in other states. Democratic Rep. Kay Floyd of Oklahoma City says that since 2006, the House and Senate have passed at least 18 bills that have been ruled unconstitutional.
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