California Bill Would Block Local Circumcision Bans
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Two California lawmakers have introduced a bill that would pre-empt local governments from enacting laws regarding male circumcision and reserve such legislation for the state level.
Assemblyman Mike Gatto of Los Angeles says the bill is in response to recent efforts at the local level, including a November ballot measure to ban circumcision in San Francisco. A similar ban failed to make the ballot in Santa Monica.
San Francisco's measure would prohibit circumcision of males under the age of 18, making it a misdemeanor punishable by fine or jail.
Gatto says the bill was filed as an urgency statute, which means it could become law immediately if it passes through the Legislature and is signed by the governor.
Supporters of the ban did not return a request for comment.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
