× Thanks for reading! Log in to continue. Enjoy more articles by logging in or creating a free account. No credit card required. Log in Sign up {{featured_button_text}}

PHOENIX — Calling claims that fetal research helps cure diseases is a lie, state senators voted Wednesday to outlaw scientific research on aborted fetuses.

SB 1474 would bring to a halt virtually all work done on tissue from fetuses that were the result of elective abortions. The only thing doctors and laboratories could do is test the tissue to diagnose the life or health of the mother or the fetus, or conduct pathological studies to find out if the fetus was diseased.

The measure, approved by an 18-11 margin, also would make it a state crime not only to sell fetal tissue, something already illegal under federal law, but even to give it away or transfer it, something that is now permitted. And Sen. Nancy Barto, R-Phoenix, added last-minute language to ensure that state health officials could find out what happened to the tissue even if it infringes on physician-patient relations.

Separately, the Senate voted by the same margin to permanently disqualify any organization that offers elective abortion from being part of the State Employees Charitable Campaign which allows state workers to have donations to groups deducted automatically from their paychecks.