{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-508.125","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 508.125","heading":"Female genital mutilation.","body":"(1) As used in this section, \"female genital mutilation\" means a procedure that involves\nthe partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or any procedure harmful\nto the female genitalia, including but not limited to:\n(a) A clitoridectomy;\n(b) The partial or total removal of the clitoris or the prepuce;\n(c) The excision or the partial or total removal of the clitoris and the labia minora,\nwith or without excision of the labia majora;\n(d) The infibulation or the narrowing of the vaginal orifice with  the creation of a\ncovering seal by cutting and appositioning of the labia minora or the labia\nmajora, with or without the excision of the clitoris;\n(e) Pricking, piercing, incising, scraping, or cauterizing the genital area; or\n(f) Any other action to pur posely alter the structure or function of the female\ngenitalia for a nonmedical reason.\n(2) A person is guilty of female genital mutilation when:\n(a) The person knowingly performs female genital mutilation on another person\nunder eighteen (18) years of age;\n(b) The person is a parent, guardian, or has immediate custody or control of a\nperson under eighteen (18) years of age and knowingly consents to or permits\nfemale genital mutilation of such person; or\n(c) The person knowingly removes or causes or permits  the removal of a person\nunder eighteen (18) years of age from Kentucky for the purposes of\nperformance of female genital mutilation of the person.\n(3) It is not a defense to female genital mutilation that the conduct under subsection (2)\nof this section is:\n(a) Required as a matter of religion, custom, ritual, or standard practice; or\n(b) Consented to by the individual on whom it is performed or the individual's\nparent or guardian.\n(4) A surgical procedure is not a violation of subsection (1) of this section if the\nprocedure is:\n(a) Necessary to the health of the person on whom it is performed and is\nperformed by a person licensed in the place of its performance as a health care\nprovider; or\n(b) Performed on a person in labor or who has just given birth and is performed\nfor medical purposes connected with that labor or birth by a person licensed in\nthe place of its performance as a health care provider.\n(5) Female genital mutilation is a Class B felony.","path":["KRS Chapter 508"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=49892","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T21:00:01Z","sha256":"608e2949296d7e565f7f5c1c691bdc89974525ea1c351e05e26999bc8371963c","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-508.120","next":"us-ky/krs-508.130"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}