1-1     By:  Giddings, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Ellis)          H.B. No. 91
 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House May 6, 1999;
 1-3     May 7, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal
 1-4     Justice; May 14, 1999, reported favorably by the following vote:
 1-5     Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 14, 1999, sent to printer.)
 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-7                                   AN ACT
 1-8     relating to prohibiting female genital mutilation; imposing a
 1-9     penalty.
1-10           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-11           SECTION 1.  Subtitle H, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is
1-12     amended by adding Chapter 166 to read as follows:
1-13                   CHAPTER 166. FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION
1-14           Sec. 166.001.  FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION PROHIBITED.  (a)  A
1-15     person commits an offense if the person knowingly circumcises,
1-16     excises, or infibulates any part of the labia majora or labia
1-17     minora or clitoris of another person who is younger than 18 years
1-18     of age.
1-19           (b)  An offense under this section is a state jail felony.
1-20           (c)  It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a)
1-21     that:
1-22                 (1)  the person performing the act is a physician or
1-23     other licensed health care professional and the act is within the
1-24     scope of the person's license; and
1-25                 (2)  the act is performed for medical purposes.
1-26           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-27     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-28     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-29     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-30     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
1-31     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
1-32     passage, and it is so enacted.
1-33                                  * * * * *