OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The Oklahoma legislature has approved

legislation that authorizes the chemical castration of serious sex

offenders.

The measure, which passed the House on Thursday and had already

passed the Senate, permits judges to order chemical castration for

people convicted of first- or second-degree rape or forcible sodomy.

Repeat offenders could be subject to surgical castration under the

bill.

The measure now goes to Gov. Frank Keating for final approval.

In the chemical castration process, drugs are used to reduce the

amount of the male hormone testosterone the body produces.

The sponsor, Sen. Frank Shurden, has been trying to get a

castration law on the books since the early 1970s. He has said

castration has been effective in Europe in reducing recidivism by

sex offenders.