No person shall be imprisoned for debt, but a valid decree of a court of competent jurisdiction or agreement approved by decree of said court for the support of a spouse or dependent children, or for the support of an illegitimate child or children, or for alimony (either common law or as defined by statute), shall not constitute a debt within the meaning of this section.

Acts 1950, c. 14, ratified Nov. 7, 1950; Acts 1962, c. 121, ratified Nov. 6, 1962; Acts 1982, c. 321, ratified Nov. 2, 1982.