If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion of this article is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct, and independent provision and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions.
(Sec. 13-16.10, R.O. 1978 (1983 Ed.)) (1990 Code, Ch. 40, Art. 2, § 40-2.10)