(MassLive) A bill the Massachusetts House passed on Thursday would establish criminal and civil penalties for the practice of female genital mutilation.
The bill (H 4606) would set a penalty of up to five years in state prison, or a fine of up to $10,000 and up to two and a half years in a county jail for anyone who knowingly commits female genital mutilation on someone under age 18.
Anyone who “knowingly transports a person under the age of 18 within the commonwealth or knowingly sends such person out of the commonwealth” for a female genital mutilation (FGM) procedure would be subject to the same penalty.
Victims would also be able to pursue civil actions.
