THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY MURT, V. BROWN, CLYMER, DONATUCCI, EVERETT, GEIST, GIBBONS, GILLEN, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, HESS, JOSEPHS, MANN, MILLARD, MOUL, MUNDY, M. O'BRIEN, PETRARCA, QUINN, REICHLEY, ROEBUCK, STURLA, VULAKOVICH AND YOUNGBLOOD, MAY 10, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MAY 10, 2011  

AN ACT

Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania

Consolidated Statutes, prohibiting mutilation of female

genitalia.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

is amended by adding a section to read:

§ 3131.  Female mutilation.

(a)  Offense defined.--A person commits female mutilation

when:

(1)  the person knowingly circumcises, excises or

infibulates the whole or any part of the genitalia of a

female; or

(2)  the person is a parent, guardian or other person who

is legally responsible for and charged with the care or

custody of a female child 17 years of age or younger, and who

allows the circumcision, excision or infibulation of the

whole or any part of the female child's genitalia.

(b)  Grading.--Female mutilation is a misdemeanor of the

first degree.

(c)  Exception.--A surgical operation is not a violation of

this section if such operation is:

(1)  necessary to the health of the person on whom it is

performed and either is performed by a licensed physician or

is performed in the presence of a licensed physician by a

person in training to become a licensed physician; or

(2)  performed on a person in labor or who has just given

birth and is performed for medical reasons connected with

that labor or birth by a licensed physician, by a licensed

midwife or in the presence of a licensed physician by a

person in training to become a licensed physician.

Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.