(1)(a) Reports of known or
suspected child abuse or neglect made pursuant to this article 3 must be made as
soon as practicable, but no later than twenty-four hours after receiving the
information, to the county department, the local law enforcement agency, or
through the child abuse reporting hotline system as set forth in section 26-5-111.
The county department shall submit a report of confirmed child abuse or neglect
within sixty days after receipt of the report to the state department in a manner
prescribed by the state department.
(b)If a person required to submit a report pursuant to this part 3 contacts
the child abuse reporting hotline system created pursuant to section 26-5-111 or a
county department about an incident or situation for which the child abuse
reporting h
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(1) (a) Reports of known or
suspected child abuse or neglect made pursuant to this article 3 must be made as
soon as practicable, but no later than twenty-four hours after receiving the
information, to the county department, the local law enforcement agency, or
through the child abuse reporting hotline system as set forth in section 26-5-111.
The county department shall submit a report of confirmed child abuse or neglect
within sixty days after receipt of the report to the state department in a manner
prescribed by the state department.
(b) If a person required to submit a report pursuant to this part 3 contacts
the child abuse reporting hotline system created pursuant to section 26-5-111 or a
county department about an incident or situation for which the child abuse
reporting hotline system or county department has already received a report, the
child abuse reporting hotline system or county department may, after confirming
that the report does not require a new referral, provide the person with the referral
identification number from the earlier child abuse reporting hotline system or
county report. A person required to submit a report pursuant to this part 3 who
receives a referral identification number from the child abuse reporting hotline
system or a county department is not required to make a report pursuant to
subsection (1)(a) of this section and is deemed to have fulfilled their reporting
responsibility. Nothing in this section precludes the child abuse reporting hotline
system or a county department from generating a new report if there is additional
or different information that might not have been reported or if the referral is not
currently under review.
(2) Reports of known or suspected child abuse or neglect made pursuant to
this article 3 must include the following information whenever possible:
(a) The name, address, age, sex, and race of the child;
(b) The name and address of the person responsible for the suspected abuse
or neglect;
(c) The nature and extent of the child's injuries, including any evidence of
previous cases of known or suspected abuse or neglect of the child or the child's
siblings;
(c.5) Any evidence of known domestic violence or intimate partner violence
in the child's home, including any evidence of previous cases of known domestic
violence or intimate partner violence in the child's home;
(d) The names and addresses of the persons responsible for the suspected
abuse or neglect, if known;
(e) The family composition;
(f) The source of the report and the name, address, and occupation of the
person making the report;
(g) Any action taken by the reporting source;
(h) Any other information that the person making the report believes may be
helpful in furthering the purposes of this part 3;
(i) The military affiliation of the individual who has custody or control of the
child who is the subject of the investigation of child abuse or neglect, if such
individual is a member of the armed forces or a spouse, or a significant other or
family member residing in the home of the member of the armed forces. This
information shall be shared with the appropriate military installation authorities
pursuant to the requirements set forth in sections 19-1-303 (2.6) and 19-1-307
(2)(w).
(2.5) Notwithstanding the requirements set forth in subsection (2) of this
section, any officer or employee of a county, district, or municipal public health
agency or state department of public health and environment who makes a report
pursuant to section 25-1-122 (4)(d) or 25-4-405, C.R.S., shall include only the
information described in said section.
(3) (a) A copy of the report of known or suspected child abuse or neglect
shall be transmitted immediately by the county department to the district
attorney's office and to the local law enforcement agency.
(b) When the county department reasonably believes a criminal act of abuse
or neglect of a child in foster care has occurred, the county department shall
transmit immediately a copy of the written report prepared by the county
department in accordance with subsection (1) of this section to the district
attorney's office and to the local law enforcement agency.
(4) A written report, including a report voluntarily made, from persons or
officials required by this part 3 to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect
is admissible as evidence in a proceeding relating to child abuse, subject to the
limitations of section 19-1-307.
(5) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) Coercion means compelling a person by force, threat of force, or
intimidation to engage in conduct from which the person has the right or privilege
to abstain, or to abstain from conduct in which the person has the right or privilege
to engage.
(b) Domestic violence, commonly known as intimate partner violence
means a pattern of violent behavior or an act, attempted act, or perceived threat of
violence, stalking, harassment, or coercion that is committed by a person against
another person with whom the actor is involved or has been involved in an intimate
relationship. A sexual relationship may be an indicator of an intimate relationship
but is never a necessary condition for finding an intimate relationship.