Bill introduced to ban abortion pill

House Bill 1038 by Rep. Bill Graves, R-Oklahoma City, would make it a felony to prescribe, dispense or otherwise distribute mifepristone, also known as RU-486. Violations would be punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to two years in prison or both.

"I don't want to make abortion any easier than it is now,"

said Graves, a strong opponent of abortion. Graves said he assumes state law can supersede federal approval of the drug.

But the NCSL's annual legislative forecast says state legislatures cannot ban the sale or use of the prescription drug that has been approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration.

The national group said legislatures are likely to review the language of their abortion laws to reflect use of the abortion pill.

A lobbyist for Planned Parenthood of Oklahoma, Keith Smith, said the group supports the availability of mifepristone. Smith said he is not surprised that Graves filed the measure.

"I think saner minds in the Oklahoma Legislature will prevail," Smith said.

The drug, approved by the FDA in September, blocks a hormone that is vital to sustaining pregnancy and only works during the first seven weeks of pregnancy. Two days after taking mifepristone, women take a second drug that causes cramping and bleeding as the embryo is expelled.

The FDA restricted its use to doctors with certain training and mandated that detailed patient-information brochures be given to every woman.

Last year, more than 400 abortion-related bills were introduced in state legislatures across the nation.

Over the past two years, a handful of states have introduced bills that would have given pharmacists the right to refuse distribution of RU-486. A similar law was passed in South Dakota, but the statute's impact would be limited because the pill is distributed only to patients in doctors offices.

A bill filed in Kentucky would amend the definition of abortion to include mifepristone, the NCSL said. It also would prohibit prescriptions to anyone 16 or younger.