Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 60 Part 1.djvu/949

 PUBLIC LAWS-CH. 871-AUG. 8, 1946 Interference, etc. Penalties. Prosecutions. Imposition of condi- tions by court. Persons relying on spiritual means to cure disease, etc. "Health Officor. " Construing of pro- visions. 53 Stat. 1408. D. C. Code § 6-119 note. "SEC. 9. It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to obstruct, resist, oppose, or interfere with any person performing any duty or function under the authority of this Act or any regulation promul- gated thereunder. "SEc. 10. Any person who violates any of the provisions of section 6, 8, or 9 of this Act shall be punished by a fine of not more than $300 or by imprisonment for not longer than ninety days, or both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court. The Commissioners of the District of Columbia shall have power to pre- scribe penalties of fine not to exceed $300 or imprisonment not to exceed ninety days, or both, in the discretion of the court for the violation of any regulation promulgated under this Act. All prose- cutions for violations of this Act or the regulations promulgated thereunder shall be in the Criminal Division of the Municipal Court for the District of Columbia, in the name of the District of Columbia upon information filed by the corporation counsel of the District of Columbia or any of his assistants. The court may impose conditions upon any person found guilty under the aforesaid provisions and so long as such person shall comply therewith to the satisfaction of the court the imposition or execution of sentence may be suspended for such period as the court may direct; and the court may at or before the expiration of such period vacate such sentence or cause it to be executed. Conditions thus imposed by the court may include sub- mission to medical and mental examination, diagnosis, and treatment by proper public health and welfare authorities or by any licensed physician approved by the court, and such other terms and conditions as the court may deem best for the protection of the community and the punishment, control, and rehabilitation of the defendant. The Health Officer of the District of Columbia, the Metropolitan Police force, and employees of the Board of Public Welfare are authorized and directed to perform such duties as may be directed by the court in effectuating compliance with the conditions so imposed upon any defendant. "SEC. 11. With respect to all persons who, either on behalf of themselves or their minor children or wards, rely in good faith upon spiritual means or prayer in the free exercise of religion to prevent or cure disease nothing in this Act shall have the effect of requiring or giving any health officer or other person the right to compel any such person, minor child or ward, to go to or be confined in a hospital or other medical institution unless no other place for quarantine of such person, minor child or ward can be secured, nor to compel any such person, child or ward to submit to any medical treatment. "SEC. 12. Wherever the term 'Health Officer' is used in this Act it shall mean the Health Officer of the District of Columbia and his duly authorized agents. "SEC. 13. Each and every provision of this Act shall be construed liberally in aid of the powers vested in the public authorities looking to the protection of the public health, comfort, and welfare and not by way of limitation." SEC. 3. That section 3 of the said Act approved August 11, 1939, be renumbered as section 13. Approved August 8, 1946. 922 [60 STAT.

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