ARIZONA: Senate votes to outlaw female genital cutting

Associated Press
February 24, 2014

Arizona Senate approves bill banning female circumcision

PHOENIX -- The Arizona Senate has approved a bill outlawing female genital mutilation that's known as female circumcision.

The Senate unanimously approved the bill on Monday. The bill bars genital mutilation on girls under 18 and would make a first-time violation and conviction punishable by five to 14 years in prison and a minimum $25,000 fine.

Bill sponsor Republican Sen. Judy Burges of Sun City West says female genital mutilation is a problem that's beginning to appear in the United States.

The bill will now go the House of Representatives.