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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the offense of female genital mutilation. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 167.001, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) A person commits an offense if the person: |
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(1) knowingly circumcises, excises, or infibulates |
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any part of the labia majora or labia minora or clitoris of another |
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person who is younger than 18 years of age; |
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(2) is a parent or legal guardian of another person who |
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is younger than 18 years of age and knowingly consents to or permits |
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an act described by Subdivision (1) to be performed on that person; |
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or |
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(3) knowingly transports or facilitates the |
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transportation of another person who is younger than 18 years of age |
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within this state or from this state for the purpose of having an |
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act described by Subdivision (1) performed on that person. |
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(d) It is not a defense to prosecution under this section |
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that: |
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(1) the person on whom the circumcision, excision, or |
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infibulation was performed or was to be performed, or another |
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person authorized to consent to medical treatment of that person, |
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including that person's parent or legal guardian, consented to the |
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circumcision, excision, or infibulation; |
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(2) the circumcision, excision, or infibulation is |
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required by a custom or practice of a particular group; or |
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(3) the circumcision, excision, or infibulation was |
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performed or was to be performed as part of or in connection with a |
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religious or other ritual. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, |
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and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For |
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purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the |
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effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred |
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before that date. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |