FGM EDUCATION & OUTREACH                                                                      H.B. 4642:

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 4642 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Representative Pam Faris

House Committee:  Law and Justice

Senate Committee:  Judiciary

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Public Health Code to require the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to develop and administer an education and outreach program that informed the public of the health risks and criminal penalties associated with female genital mutilation. "Female genital mutilation" would mean the circumcision, excision, or infibulation, in whole or in part, of the labia majora, labia minora, or clitoris of a female who is under 18 years of age.

In developing the program, the Department would have to seek input from all of the following: a) the general public, including individuals from communities that, as a matter of custom or ritual, traditionally practice female genital mutilation; b) women's health organizations; c) teachers; d) local health departments; and e) State agencies that the DHHS considered relevant.

The Department also would have to develop information on female genital mutilation and the associated criminal penalties and disseminate the information to teachers and law enforcement personnel.

Proposed MCL 333.9159                                                    Legislative Analyst:  Jeff Mann

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have an indeterminate, but likely minimal, negative fiscal impact on the Department of Health and Human Services, and no fiscal impact on local units of government. Under the bill, the DHHS would face an indeterminate increase in administrative costs resulting from the requirement that it develop and administer a public educational outreach program, as well as develop information on female genital mutilation and the related criminal penalties and disseminate it to teachers and law enforcement personnel. The total cost resulting from the bill would depend on the methods the DHHS chose to educate the public, which are not explicitly defined in the bill.

Date Completed:  6-15-17                                                 Fiscal Analyst:  Ellyn Ackerman

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.