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US Laws Against FGM – State by State (Table)

Only 41 States currently have laws against FGM

Only 41 States currently have laws against FGM (updated as of August 2023).

States which do not yet have laws against FGM:  Alabama, Alaska, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, and New Mexico, in addition to the District of Columbia (Washington D.C.).

STATES WITH LAWS AGAINST FGM:

StateApplicable lawNo. of women and girls in the state affected by FGMApplies to all women and girls (and not limited to minors)Parent/ Guardian and circumciser subject to prosecution“Vacation provision” banning travel outside the state for FGMCultural/ ritual reason and/or consent not a defenseProvisions for community education and outreachStatute of LimitationsGood Practice Provisions
ArizonaA.R.S § 12-513, 13-705,  13-1214, 13-3620 Effective 4/24/20147459    7 yearsMandatory Reporting provisions; civil remedy for damages
ArkansasA.C.A. § 5-14-135, 12-18-103, 16-118-116, 17-80-121, 20-82-101, 20-82-102 Effective Mar. 26, 2019551 3 years starting at 18Civil remedy; annual reporting; exception for gender-affirming surgery; accountability for medical professionals
CaliforniaCal. Pen. Code § 273a, 273.4 Passed in 1996; Effective 1/1/199756,872   2 years
ColoradoCol. Rev. Stat. § 18-6-401 Effective 5/24/19998705 No LimitDoctor-patient and husband-wife privileges are inapplicable in prosecutions for FGM
DelawareDel. Code Tit. 11, § 780 Effective 7/3/19962238   No Limit
FloridaFla. Stat. § 794.08 Effective 10/1/201811,180  8 years from the age of 16
GeorgiaO.C.G.A. § 16-5-27 Effective 7/1/200520,476  7 Years.Husband-Wife and other statutory privileges are inapplicable in prosecutions for FGM
IdahoId. Stat. §18-1506B Effective 7/1/ 2019566    ✔  3 years after date of initial disclosure to law enforcement
Illinois720 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/12-34 Effective 1/1/1998, as amended 8/9/201912,039 ✔    3 years (no limit if the victim is under the age of 18)
IndianaIC § 35-42-2-10; IC 16-19-13-8, as added by P.L.51-20215251 5 YearsMedical license revocation; mandatory reporting
IowaI.C.A. § 708.16, Passed 5/1/20195142  3 YearsEducation provisions includes protocol for physicians to provide treatment for survivors
KansasK.S.A. § 21-5431 Enacted 4/10/20133171  10 years ( If the survivor was under the age of 15 when the crime occured the period will start after reahing 28 years)
KentuckyK.R.S 508.125; 15.334 Effective 4/2/20201845 No Limitcivil remedy for damages; mandatory revocation of license; mandatory reporting; data collection/statistical reporting
LouisianaLa. R.S. 14:43.4 Effective 8/1/20121524  4 Years
MarylandMd. Code Health-Gen. § 20-601, 602 Effective 4/28/1998 31,820   No Limit
MassachusettsChapter 149 of Acts of 2020 Effective 8/6/202014,211  6 YearsMandatory reporting; civil remedy for damages; promotes inter-agency partnerships to prevent FGM
MichiganMI ST 750.136; 750.136a 333.9159
Effective 10/9/2017
10,493 10 years or till the survivor turns 21, whichever is earliermedical license revocation
MinnesotaMinn. Stat. § 144.3872609.2245; Effective 8/1/199544,293   3 Years
MissouriMo. Rev. Stat. § 568.065 Passed 7/13/20004043  No Limit
NevadaNev. Rev. Stat. § 200.5083 Effective 6/26/19977457  Until the victim turns 36 (or 43 years of age in cases of lack of knowledge)
New HampshireN.H. Rev. Stat. § 632-A:10-d Effective Jan. 1, 2019403  After turning 36 years of age, if the victim knew or reasonably should have known about [the FGM] by that date; or by the age of 43 if [the FGM] could not reasonably have been discovered or known by the age of 36.
New JerseyN.J. Stat. § 2C:24- 10 Effective 1/17/201431, 023  5 Years
New YorkN.Y. Penal Law § 130.85 Effective 11/1/1997; N.Y. Public Health Law § 207(k) Effective 11/20/201548, 418 5 years (only begins to run when victim turns 23 if not reported earlier)
North CarolinaNC ST § 14-28.1 Effective 10/1/20199399  No Limit
North DakotaN.D. Cent. Code § 12.1-36-01 Effective 8/1/1995, Amended 4/5/2019.531  3 years of offence or reporting to law enforcement, whichever is later
OhioOH ST § 2903.32 Amended 4/5/201924,320   6 years after victim turns 18 (unless law enforcement was notified earlier)
Oklahoma21 Okl. St. § 760 Effective 11/1/20091788  ✔    3 Years
OregonOr. Rev. Stat. § 163.207 Effective 7/15/1999; 431A.600 Added 20192647  3 Years
Pennsylvania18 Pa.C.S.A. § 3132 Passed 6/28/201919,480  2 years after the victim turns 18
Rhode IslandR.I. Gen. Laws § 11-5-2 Effective 7/3/19962754  ✔     3 Years
South CarolinaCode 1976 § 16-3-2210-2240, Passed May 16, 20191480  No LimitPermanent revocation of medical license
South DakotaS.D.C.L. §§ 22-18- 37, 22-18-38, 22- 18-39 Effective 3/10/20151019  7 Years
TennesseeTenn. Code § 39-13-110 Effective 7/1/1996, as amended, Effective 7/1/20198062  ✔   4 years or until the victim reaches the age of 21, whichever occurs laterCivil remedy for damages; disciplinary action against healthcare practitioners who perform FGM
TexasTex. Health & Safety Code § 167.001, 2005 as amended 9/1/201733,087  3 Years
UtahU.C.A. 1953 § 76-5-701, 76-5-702, 76-5-703, 76-5-704 Passed Mar. 22, 20191769 4 YearsPrivate cause of action/ civil remedy; medical professional disciplinary action; mandatory reporting; exception for gender affirming surgery 
Vermont13 V.S.A § 3151 Effective Feb. 27, 2020650    ✔  3 Years
VirginiaVa. Code §§ 8.01- 42.5, 18.2-51.7 Effective July 1, 2018. Va. Code § 22.1-207.1:1, Passed Feb. 22, 2019 30,830  No LimitCivil remedy for damages
WashingtonAn ACT Relating to female genital mutilation25,000  ✔ ✔ 10 years (or up to the victim’s 28th year if the child was below 18 at the time of commission)Civil remedy for damages; permanent revocation of license for healthcare providers; requirement for state to partner with stakeholders to prevent and address FGM
West VirginiaW. Va. Code § 61-8D-3A Passed 2/23/1999124   No Limit
WisconsinWis. Stat. § 146.35 Effective 5/28/19962144   ✔   6 Years
WyomingW.S. § 6-1-104; 6-2-502; 1-1-139; 35-25-401 Effective 7/1/2020438 No LimitCivil remedy available,  medical professional disciplinary action/license revocation, mandatory reporting.

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This table was produced in collaboration between: