Colorado § 19-3-302 Legislative declaration

Colorado Statutes

§ 19-3-302 — Legislative declaration

Colorado § 19-3-302

Title 19Children's

Art.Dependency and Neglect

This text of Colorado § 19-3-302 (Legislative declaration) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Colorado primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-3-302 (2026).

Text

(1)The general assembly declares that the complete reporting of child abuse is a matter of public concern and that, in enacting this part 3, it is the intent of the general assembly to protect the best interests of children of this state and to offer protective services in order to prevent any further harm to a child suffering from abuse. It is also the intent of the general assembly that if a county or group of counties decides to establish a child protection team, that the child protection teams publicly discuss public agencies' responses to child abuse and neglect reports so that the public and the general assembly are better informed concerning the operation and administration of this part 3.

(2)(a) The general assembly further declares that requiring people to report know

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(1) The general assembly declares that
the complete reporting of child abuse is a matter of public concern and that, in
enacting this part 3, it is the intent of the general assembly to protect the best
interests of children of this state and to offer protective services in order to prevent
any further harm to a child suffering from abuse. It is also the intent of the general
assembly that if a county or group of counties decides to establish a child
protection team, that the child protection teams publicly discuss public agencies'
responses to child abuse and neglect reports so that the public and the general
assembly are better informed concerning the operation and administration of this
part 3.

(2) (a) The general assembly further declares that requiring people to report
known or suspected child abuse or neglect pursuant to this part 3 impacts the
people reporting as well as children and families. As a result of implicit bias, under-resourced communities, communities of color, and persons with disabilities are
disproportionately impacted by the mandatory reporting system. To create a more
equitable mandatory reporting system, people required to report child abuse or
neglect must have access to necessary resources to report child abuse or neglect,
including but not limited to:

(I) Specialized training to address and decrease the disproportionate impact
on under-resourced communities, communities of color, and persons with
disabilities;

(II) Standardized training and materials; and

(III) Information regarding obligations and protections pursuant to the law.

(b) Additionally, through the creation of a mandatory reporter task force in
this part 3, diverse representatives from statewide organizations serving families
and youth shall analyze best practices and may recommend changes to training
materials and reporting procedures.

Legislative History

Source: L. 87: Entire title R&RE, p. 762, � 1, effective October 1. L. 2017: Entire section amended, (SB 17-016), ch. 107, p. 389, � 1, effective August 9. L. 2022: Entire section amended, (HB 22-1240), ch. 313, p. 2235, � 1, effective August 10.