ARIZONA: Female genital cutting outlawed

KSWT (Arizona)
March 21, 2014

Committee OKs bill banning female circumcision

PHOENIX (AP) - An Arizona House committee has approved a bill outlawing female genital mutilation that's known as female circumcision.

The Committee on Judiciary unanimously approved Senate Bill 1342 on Thursday. 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 Senate approved the bill unanimously last month. It will now go to the House of Representatives.