California · Penal Code

PEN §367g: (a) It shall be unlawful for anyone to knowingly use sperm, ova, or embryos in assisted reproduction technology, for any purpose other than that indicated by the sperm, ova, or embryo provider’s signa

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

It is illegal to use sperm, ova, or embryos in assisted reproduction without the provider's written consent or for purposes other than specified on consent forms. Violation is punishable by imprisonment of three to five years, fines up to $50,000, or both.

Read the full statutory text

(a) It shall be unlawful for anyone to knowingly use sperm, ova, or embryos in assisted reproduction technology, for any purpose other than that indicated by the sperm, ova, or embryo provider’s signature on a written consent form. (b) It shall be unlawful for anyone to knowingly implant sperm, ova, or embryos, through the use of assisted reproduction technology, into a recipient who is not the sperm, ova, or embryo provider, without the signed written consent of the sperm, ova, or embryo provider and recipient. (c) Any person who violates this section shall be punished by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 for three, four, or five years, by a fine not to exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment. (d) Written consent, for the purposes of this section, shall not be required of men who donate sperm to a licensed tissue bank.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.