HB170 Summary

• Establishes the crime of female genital mutilation under Alabama law, known as "The Dr. Groesbeck Parham Act."

• Prohibits knowingly committing female genital mutilation on persons under age 19, and prohibits parents or guardians from allowing, authorizing, or directing another to perform the procedure.

• Classifies violation as a Class B felony; persons under age 19 are deemed incapable of consenting to the procedure.

• Religious, custom, ritual, or standard practice defenses are not permitted; exempts medically necessary procedures performed by licensed physicians at licensed medical facilities and procedures performed during labor or childbirth for medical purposes.

• Defines "female genital mutilation" to include removal, cutting, circumcision, excision, infibulation of labia majora, labia minora, or clitoris, and any other harmful procedures to female genitalia for non-medical purposes such as incising, piercing, scraping, nicking, cauterizing, burning, and scarring.