---
title: O.C.G.A. § 31-17-3. Examination and treatment by health authorities.
collection: code
id: 31-17-3
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 31-17-3 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-17-3
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-17-3.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-17-3/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t31-(v23)-2025-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=da7ded69_0#page=834
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/31-17.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Session of the General Assembly of Georgia
heading_path: HEALTH / CONTROL OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES
---

# O.C.G.A. § 31-17-3. Examination and treatment by health authorities.

The authorized agent or agents of the Department of Public Health and county boards of health are directed and empowered, when in their judgment it is necessary to protect the public health, to make examination of persons infected or suspected of being infected with a sexually transmitted disease; to require persons infected with a sexually transmitted disease to report for treatment to a physician licensed to practice medicine under Chapter 34 of Title 43 and to continue treatment until cured, or to submit to treatment provided at public expense; and to isolate persons infected or reasonably suspected of being infected with a sexually transmitted disease. Law enforcement authorities of the jurisdiction wherein any such person so infected or suspected of being infected is located shall offer such assistance, including restraint and arrest, as shall be necessary to assure examination and treatment in accordance with this chapter.

## History

Ga. L. 1918, p. 275, § 3; Code 1933, § 88-503; Code 1933, § 88-1604, enacted by Ga. L. 1964, p. 499, § 1; Ga. L. 1996, p. 6, § 31; Ga. L. 2009, p. 453, § 1-4/HB 228; Ga. L. 2011, p. 705, § 6-3/HB 214; Ga. L. 2020, p. 55, § 8/SB 372; Ga. L. 2021, p. 922, § 31/HB 497.

## Cross References

Blood test recommendation for persons applying for marriage license, § 19-3-40.

## Law Reviews

For article on the 2011 amendment of this Code section, see 28 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 147 (2011).