SB 1891 Summary

• Creates the "Freedom of Conscience Act" establishing protections for individuals refusing to participate in specified medical procedures based on religious or moral beliefs.

• Prohibits employers, health care facilities, and schools from discriminating against employees, prospective employees, or students who refuse to participate in abortions, embryo experimentation, assisted suicide, euthanasia, or procedures using fetal tissue from sources other than stillbirth or miscarriage.

• Exempts health care facilities from requirements to admit patients or allow use of facilities for specified prohibited acts and provides immunity from liability for health care workers who refuse participation on moral or religious grounds.

• Allows persons adversely affected by violations to file civil actions for equitable relief and damages within one year, with courts awarding reasonable attorney fees to prevailing parties.

• Repeals prior Freedom of Conscience Act provisions from Chapter 36, O.S.L. 2008 and declares an emergency effective immediately upon passage.