6248A, .R .
ORDINANCE NO. 6248
AN ORDINANCE 20 SUPPRESS THE SPREAD OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES,
PROVIDING FOR EXAMINATION OF PERSONS TO DETERMINE THE PRESENCE
OF VENEREAL DISEASES IN A COMMUNICABLE STAGE, PROVIDING FOR THE
ISOLATION OF INFECTIOi1S CASES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS:
Section 1. Whenever the city health officer has reason-
able grounds to believe that any person is suffering from any
venereal disease in an infectious stage, he is authorized to
cause such suspect to be apprehended by any person or persons
he may designate and detained and examined by the necessary
tests and examination, including the Wassermann blood test, to
ascertain the existence of said diseases or any of them and to
quarantine said person so examined for a reasonable time pending
determination of the outcome of the tests, provided that any
evidence so acquired shall not be used against such person in
any criminal prosecution.
Section 2. The city health officer may, when in the exercise
of his discretion he believes that the public health requires
it, commit any commercial prostitute or other person apprehended
and /or examined and found afflicted with said diseases or any
of them who refuses or fails to take treatment adequate for the
protection of the public health, to a hospital or other place
designated by the city health officer as a place of quarantine
in the State of Arkansas for such treatment even over the objection
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of the person so diseased and treated provided the commitment
can be done without endangering the life of the patient.
Section 3. Definition of Suspect. A suspect is defined t
'as -one -whose name has been furnished the local health -authority
through reliable sources as a contact to a person who had an
infectious vexnereal disease subsequent to contact.
A suspect would also be considered as one (female) who
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resides in a hotel, boarding- house, or other public house, not
engaged in legitim *Lte gainful employment and not living with a
spouse; especially when reliable information has been furnished
the local health authority that exposure did occur in the place
of residence indioated above.
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Suspicion is interpreted broadly and is applicable toeither
of the above definitions.
Section 4. It shall be a misdemeanor for any person to
violate any of the terms of this ordinance or to fail or refuse
to remain in any hospital or place of quarantine after being
committed to such place by the .City Health Officer as provided
in Section 2 of this ordinance. On conviction in Municipal Court
of a misdemeanor as provided in this section of this ordinance,
the persons so convicted shall be fined in a sum not less than
Twenty Five Dollars ($25.00) nor more than Two Hundred Dollars
($200.00).
Section 5. If any part, phrase, clause, section, or sub-
section of this ordinance be held to be unconstitutional or in-
valid, such unconstitutionality or invalidity shall not affect
the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance. The
City Council hereby declares that it would have passed the re-
maining parts of this ordinance if it had known that such part,
phrase, clause, section or subsection thereof would be declared
unconstitutional or invalid.
Section 6. WHEREAS, the suppression and punishment of
immoral practi @e in the City of Little Rock is a matter of great
public concern and directly affects the public health and welfare,
an emerjency is hereby declared to exist and this ordinance
shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage
and approval.
Passed: July 7, 1941
Approved:
Mayor
At t
�ity Clerk