Michigan Legislature poised to OK genital mutilation bills

Doctors and parents involved in female genital mutilation could go to prison for up to 15 years under bills poised for final approval from lawmakers in Michigan, where the first federal prosecution of the practice is ongoing.

Gov. Rick Snyder will sign the legislation that's expected to pass Tuesday. It would make Michigan the 26th state to ban female genital mutilation. The practice already is a federal crime, punishable by five years in prison.

Legislators say the federal penalty isn't severe enough and Michigan's bills would also apply to parents or others who knowingly facilitate genital mutilation.

The legislation was introduced after two doctors and one of their wives were indicted in an alleged scheme to perform genital mutilation on two girls from Minnesota at a Detroit-area clinic.