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Bill requires OU Children's Hospital to stop performing gender-affirming care to get relief money

Senate Bill 3 passed both the House and the Senate.

Bill requires OU Children's Hospital to stop performing gender-affirming care to get relief money

Senate Bill 3 passed both the House and the Senate.

ZACH SOME REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS SAY THAT STIPULATION DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH THAT GENDER REASSIGNMENT OR AFFIRMING CARE FOR CHILDREN SHOULD BE BANNED STATEWIDE. BUT DEMOCRATS SAY THIS LAW WILL ONLY HURT OR BE VULNERABLE CHILDREN HERE IN OKLAHOMA. LET’S BE ABUNDANTLY CLEAR. THIS DOES NOT STOP MINORS IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA FROM HAVING A SEX CHANGE SURGERIES. IT ONLY STOPS IT FROM HAPPENING AT O.U. OKLAHOMANS AND SPECIFICALLY YOUNG OKLAHOMANS WHO ARE TRANSGENDER LIVE AMONG US. THEY DESERVE RESPECT, DIGNITY AND MEDICAL CARE THAT SERVES THEM WITH BEST PRACTICES. THOSE WERE THE TWO NO SIDES IN THE DEBATE OVER SENATE BILL THREE. IT ALLOCATES MORE THAN $39 MILLION TO ALL YOU HEALTH FOR CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH CENTER. THAT MONEY, THOUGH, ACCORDING TO THE BILL, COMES WITH THE REQUIREMENT THAT ALL YOU STOP PROVIDING GENDER REASSIGNMENT OR AFFIRMING CARE. EVEN THOUGH THE FUNDING WAS NEVER GOING TO THAT SPECIFIC DEPARTMENT IN A STATEMENT YESTERDAY. OH, YOU TOLD US THEY WOULD STOP THOSE SERVICES. THE MAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS DID WANT THE BILL. 31 TO BE EXACT. LEADERSHIP SAYS IT WILL STOP GENDER TREATMENTS WHILE STILL ENSURING ALL U. HEALTH CAN PROVIDE TOP NOTCH MENTAL HEALTH CARE. WELL, MIKE. OH YOU WHICH IS ALREADY A GREAT HOSPITALS. WELL, MAKE THEM A BETTER HOSPITAL TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF OKLAHOMA. AND I ENCOURAGE YOU. YES, VOTE NO ON THIS BILL. STILL, DEMOCRATS FEAR IT WILL DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD. YOU ARE SEEING YOU ARE VALUED. YOU ARE REPRESENTED BY BY A SENATOR THAT LOVES YOU AND WANTS TO SEE YOU MATURE INTO ADULTHOOD. PLEASE DO NOT LET THESE CONVERSATIONS DEFINE YOUR WORTH. COMING UP AT FIVE HERE FROM OKLAHOMANS WHO TRAVEL TO THE CAPITAL TODAY TO SHARE THEIR TAKE ON HIS CONTROVERSIAL COVID RELIEF BILL. REPORTING LIVE A
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Bill requires OU Children's Hospital to stop performing gender-affirming care to get relief money

Senate Bill 3 passed both the House and the Senate.

Oklahoma lawmakers passed legislation during a special session Thursday that won't give federal money to OU Children's Hospital unless it stops "gender-affirming" care.Senate Bill 3 passed both the House and the Senate.Some Republican lawmakers said the stipulation doesn't go far enough, saying gender reassignment or affirming care has to be banned statewide first."Let's be abundantly clear. This doesn't stop minors in the state of Oklahoma from having sex change surgeries," said state Sen. Nathan Dah, R-Broken Arrow. "It only stops it from happening at OU."Democrats argue the bill will already hurt vulnerable children."Oklahomans, and specifically young Oklahomans who are transgender, live among us," state Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, said. "They deserve respect, dignity and medical care that serves them with best practices." Senate Bill 3 allocates more than $39 million to OU Health for a children's mental health center. That money, according to the bill, comes with the requirement that OU stops providing gender reassignment or affirming care to children – even though the funding was never going to that specific department.OU Health officials told KOCO 5 in a statement Wednesday that they would stop those services.Thirty-one Republicans wanted the bill. Leadership said it will stop gender treatments while still ensuring OU Health can provide top-notch mental health care."Will make OU, which is already a great hospital, will make them a better hospital to serve the people of Oklahoma," state Sen. Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, said. "And I encourage a yes vote on this bill."Democrats fear Senate Bill 3 will do far more harm than good."You are seen. You are valued. You're represented by a senator that loves you and wants to see you mature into adulthood. Please do not let these conversations define your worth," said state Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City. Senate Bill 3 goes into effect as soon as Gov. Kevin Stitt signs it.Lawmakers passed several other bills allocating hundreds of millions of dollars to projects like broadband expansion and water quality improvements.

Oklahoma lawmakers passed legislation during a special session Thursday that won't give federal money to OU Children's Hospital unless it stops "gender-affirming" care.

Senate Bill 3 passed both the House and the Senate.

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Some Republican lawmakers said the stipulation doesn't go far enough, saying gender reassignment or affirming care has to be banned statewide first.

"Let's be abundantly clear. This doesn't stop minors in the state of Oklahoma from having sex change surgeries," said state Sen. Nathan Dah, R-Broken Arrow. "It only stops it from happening at OU."

Democrats argue the bill will already hurt vulnerable children.

"Oklahomans, and specifically young Oklahomans who are transgender, live among us," state Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, said. "They deserve respect, dignity and medical care that serves them with best practices."

Senate Bill 3 allocates more than $39 million to OU Health for a children's mental health center. That money, according to the bill, comes with the requirement that OU stops providing gender reassignment or affirming care to children – even though the funding was never going to that specific department.

OU Health officials told KOCO 5 in a statement Wednesday that they would stop those services.

Thirty-one Republicans wanted the bill. Leadership said it will stop gender treatments while still ensuring OU Health can provide top-notch mental health care.

"Will make OU, which is already a great hospital, will make them a better hospital to serve the people of Oklahoma," state Sen. Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, said. "And I encourage a yes vote on this bill."

Democrats fear Senate Bill 3 will do far more harm than good.

"You are seen. You are valued. You're represented by a senator that loves you and wants to see you mature into adulthood. Please do not let these conversations define your worth," said state Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City.

Senate Bill 3 goes into effect as soon as Gov. Kevin Stitt signs it.

Lawmakers passed several other bills allocating hundreds of millions of dollars to projects like broadband expansion and water quality improvements.