HB252 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rod Scott

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Crimes and offenses, crime of female genital mutilation established, criminal penalties provided

Summary

HB252 would criminalize female genital mutilation in Alabama, set penalties and medical exceptions, and note the bill is exempt from certain local-funding rules, taking effect immediately after the governor's approval.

What This Bill Does

It creates The Dr. Groesbeck Parham Act to establish female genital mutilation as a crime and assigns a Class B felony for performing it on anyone under 19, for guardians who allow or direct it, and for removing a minor from the state to commit it. It defines FGM broadly to include removal or any harmful procedures on the female genitalia of someone under 19, with specific medical exemptions. It states minors under 19 cannot consent, and that the act is not exempt by religious or cultural considerations; it also preserves existing medical liability laws and clarifies the medical-related exemptions. It notes the bill is exempt from local-funding requirements under Amendment 621 and would become effective immediately upon the governor’s approval.

Who It Affects

• Minors under age 19, who would be protected from FGM and from having FGM performed on them.
• Parents, legal guardians, or anyone with custody who could be charged if they allow, authorize, or direct FGM (or transport a minor out of state for it).
• Individuals who remove a minor from Alabama to perform FGM, who would be criminally liable.
• Licensed health care professionals (physicians, nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives) and licensed facilities, who may perform medically necessary procedures under the stated exemptions.
• The broader community, as the act clarifies that FGM conducted for non-medical reasons is illegal and subject to penalties.

Key Provisions

• Establishes The Dr. Groesbeck Parham Act to prohibit and punish female genital mutilation.
• Defines female genital mutilation as removing, cutting, circumcising, excising, or infibulating the labia or clitoris, or any other non-medical harmful procedures on a person under 19, including incising, piercing, scraping, nicking, cauterizing, burning, and scarring.
• Imposes a Class B felony for: (1) performing FGM on someone under 19; (2) a parent/guardian with custody allowing or directing FGM; (3) removing a minor from the state to commit FGM.
• States a person under 19 cannot consent to FGM, and that religious or cultural justifications are not a defense; lists medical exemptions for health-related procedures by licensed professionals in licensed facilities and during labor/birth procedures by licensed clinicians.
• Affirms the act does not change existing Alabama medical liability laws and clarifies that the exemptions do not modify those acts.
• Specifies that, although the bill would involve local funding considerations, it is excluded from Amendment 621 requirements because it creates a new crime.
• Effective immediately after passage and governor’s signature.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Crimes and Offenses