Oklahoma SB 936: Public health and safety; creating the Protection of Human Life Act of 2023; making certain actions with a human embryo unlawful. Effective date. Emergency.

Bill Text

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STATE OF OKLAHOMA

1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023)

SENATE BILL 936 By: Dahm

AS INTRODUCED

An Act relating to public health and safety; creating
the Protection of Human Life Act of 2023; providing
short title; defining terms; making certain actions
with a human embryo unlawful; providing penalty;
providing for codification; providing an effective
date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1-735.1 of Title 63, unless
there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. This section shall be known and may be cited as the
“Protection of Human Life Act of 2023”.
B. As used in this section:
1. “Human embryo” means a living organism of the species Homo
sapiens at the earliest stages of development, including the single-
celled stage, that is not located in the body of a female; and
2. “Nontherapeutic research” means research that is not
intended to help preserve the life and health of the particular
embryo subjected to risk. This term does not include in vitro

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fertilization and accompanying embryo transfer to the body of a
female, nor any diagnostic test which may assist in the future care
of a child subjected to the tests, nor the extraction of adult stem
cells.
C. No person shall:
1. Knowingly conduct nontherapeutic research that destroys a
human embryo or subjects a human embryo to substantial risk of
injury or death;
2. Transfer a human embryo with the knowledge that the embryo
will be subjected to nontherapeutic research; or
3. Use for research purposes cells or tissues that the person
knows were obtained by performing activities in violation of this
section.
D. Any person found violating the provisions of subsection C of
this section shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor
punishable by incarceration in the county jail for a term not to
exceed one (1) year.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2023.
SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.

59-1-1493 DC 1/19/2023 10:57:43 AM