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RELEASE: FRANSON BILL TO PROTECT GIRLS FROM FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION CLEARS FIRST COMMITTEE HEARING

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

ST. PAUL, MN -- House File 2621, authored by Rep. Mary Franson (R-Alexandria), that would hold Minnesota parents/guardians liable for the practice of female genital mutilation ("FGM") passed the Civil Law and Data Practices Committee on Wednesday.

“Today’s hearing makes a significant step towards further criminalizing this heinous act. Despite some pushback from other lawmakers, the bill passed the committee unanimously,” said Franson.   

House File 2621 would establish a criminal penalty of a felony and punishable up to 5 years in prison for a parent or guardian who knowingly consents to female genital mutilation of a child. The bill would also require that FGM be classified as a mandatory reporting act of child abuse.

Even though the deadlines for committees has passed, the Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration can provide a waiver of Joint Rules 2.03 regarding deadlines. The Committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday to provide a waiver. The bill will then proceed to the Public Safety and Security Committee and could come to the floor of the House for a vote as soon as next week.

“I look forward to discussing this important legislation on the House floor after it travels through the committee process,” Franson continued. “This bill has a real chance to be signed into law this year.”

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