State penalties for female genital mutilation would be strengthened, beyond existing federal law, under a package of bills approved Thursday in the Michigan House of Representatives.

The legislation, approved with bipartisan support, would make performing or coordinating female genital mutilation a state felony carrying a maximum sentence of 15-years in prison. The act already carries a federal penalty of up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Rep. Michele Horitenga, R-Manton, said the legislation sends the message that "these horrific acts on young girls will not be tolerated in our state."

Similar bills were approved last month in the state Senate.

The legislation follows an alleged incident of female genital mutilation in Detroit that has drawn national attention. Detroit-area doctor Jumana Nagarwala has been charged with allegedly performing the procedure on two minors from Minnesota in February. The practice, condemned by the World Health Organization, is typically concentrated in countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Bills approved Thursday would also extend the statute of limitations under which a genital mutilation victim could file a civil lawsuit against the perpetrator of the crime. Under the legislation, a genital mutilation victim - who fell victim to the crime as a minor - could file a civil lawsuit any time before the age of 28.

Rep. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, said there's currently a two-year statute of limitations for cases of medical malpractice. Giving victims of genital mutilation a longer time-frame to pursue legal action is important, because the "long term health and emotional impacts of genital mutilation are real."

The federal complaint against Nagarwala, 44, alleges she performed genital mutilation on girls between six and eight years old, some of whom traveled between states for the procedure, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

Nagarwala worked at Henry Ford Hospital and allegedly conducted female genital mutilation procedures in Livonia. Co-defendants Dr. Fakhruddin Attar, 53, and his wife, Farida Attar, 50, both of Livonia, are also accused of coordinating and performing surgeries on at least two children, both 7-year-old girls from Minnesota, at Burhanin Medical Clinic in Livonia on Feb. 3.

The legislation approved Thursday would also:

* Permanently revoke the health care license of anyone convicted of conducting female genital mutilation.

* Require the "development and administration of an educational outreach program by the Department of Health and Human Services to - at a minimum - inform the public of the health risks and emotional trauma inflicted by the practice of female genital mutilation and criminal penalties for FGM," according to an analysis by the nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency.