§ 19-1-102 — Legislative declaration

(1) The general assembly declares that
the purposes of this title are:

(a) To secure for each child subject to these provisions such care and
guidance, preferably in his own home, as will best serve his welfare and the
interests of society;

(b) To preserve and strengthen family ties whenever possible, including
improvement of home environment;

(c) To remove a child from the custody of his parents only when his welfare
and safety or the protection of the public would otherwise be endangered and, in
either instance, for the courts to proceed with all possible speed to a legal
determination that will serve the best interests of the child; and

(d) To secure for any child removed from the custody of his parents the
necessary care, guidance, and discipline to assist him in becoming a responsible
and productive member of society.

(1.5) (a) The general assembly declares that it is in the best interests of the
child who has been removed from his own home to have the following guarantees:

(I) To be placed in a secure and stable environment;

(II) To not be indiscriminately moved from foster home to foster home; and

(III) To have assurance of long-term permanency planning.

(b) (Deleted by amendment, L. 92, p. 220, � 1, effective July 1, 1992.)

(1.6) The general assembly recognizes the numerous studies establishing
that children undergo a critical bonding and attachment process prior to the time
they reach six years of age. Such studies further disclose that a child who has not
bonded with a primary adult during this critical stage will suffer significant
emotional damage which frequently leads to chronic psychological problems and
antisocial behavior when the child reaches adolescence and adulthood.
Accordingly, the general assembly finds and declares that it is appropriate to
provide for an expedited placement procedure to ensure that children under the
age of six years who have been removed from their homes are placed in permanent
homes as expeditiously as possible.

(1.7) The general assembly further declares that it is the intent of the general
assembly to have the media and the courts refrain from causing undue hardship,
discomfort, and distress to any juvenile victims of sexual assault, child abuse,
incest, or any offenses listed in wrongs to children pursuant to part 4 of article 6 of
title 18, C.R.S., by not disseminating or publishing the names of such victims.

(1.9) The federal Family First Prevention Services Act was enacted on
February 9, 2018. In order to comply with the provisions of the federal Family First
Prevention Services Act, the general assembly finds that it is necessary to update
current statutes to enable Colorado to provide enhanced support to children,
juveniles, or youth, and their families in order to prevent foster care placements.
The state department of human services shall implement the updated provisions in
this title 19 utilizing prevention services and qualified residential treatment
programs when the federal government approves Colorado's five-year Title IV-E
prevention plan, and subject to available general fund appropriations or federal
funding.

(2) To carry out these purposes, the provisions of this title shall be liberally
construed to serve the welfare of children and the best interests of society.

Legislative History

Source: L. 87: Entire title R&RE, p. 695, � 1, effective October 1. L. 88: (1.5) added, p. 755, � 1, effective May 31. L. 90: (1.7) added, p. 1007, � 1, effective July 1. L. 92: (1.5) amended, p. 220, � 1, effective July 1. L. 94: (1.6) added, p. 2051, � 1, effective July 1. L. 2019: (1.9) added, (HB 19-1308), ch. 256, p. 2458, � 2, effective August 2. L. 2020: (1.9) amended, (SB 20-162), ch. 221, p. 1087, � 1, effective July 2; (1.9) amended, (HB 20-1402), ch. 216, p. 1047, � 32, effective June 30.