Legislation prompted by girls who are victims of genital mutilation is now in the Michigan Senate.
The Michigan House on Thursday passed measures that would extend the statutes of limitation for victims up to ten years after they turn 18.
The bills also would make it a 15 year felony for anyone perform such a mutilation and also call for a 25-thousand dollar fine.
The action in Lansing comes in the aftermath of a Northville doctor and two others accused of performing a female mutilation on two seven year old girls from Minnesota. Authorities charge it was part of a primitive religious rite in a small Muslim sect.
The doctor contends there was no mutilation, that a religious ceremony was performed that involved a simple scraping and no cutting.
FGM is barred by federal law in the U.S.