[ Editor's note: This version of this section is effective until January 1, 2026. ]
(1)It is the purpose of this section to implement the provisions of section 50 of
article V of the Colorado constitution, adopted by the registered electors of the
state of Colorado at the general election November 6, 1984, which prohibits the use
of public funds by the state of Colorado or its agencies or political subdivisions to
pay or otherwise reimburse, directly or indirectly, any person, agency, or facility for
any induced abortion.
(2)If every reasonable effort has been made to preserve the lives of a
pregnant woman and her unborn child, then public funds may be used pursuant to
this section to pay or reimburse for necessary medical services, not otherwise
provided for by law.
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[ Editor's note: This version of this section is effective until January 1, 2026. ]
(1) It is the purpose of this section to implement the provisions of section 50 of
article V of the Colorado constitution, adopted by the registered electors of the
state of Colorado at the general election November 6, 1984, which prohibits the use
of public funds by the state of Colorado or its agencies or political subdivisions to
pay or otherwise reimburse, directly or indirectly, any person, agency, or facility for
any induced abortion.
(2) If every reasonable effort has been made to preserve the lives of a
pregnant woman and her unborn child, then public funds may be used pursuant to
this section to pay or reimburse for necessary medical services, not otherwise
provided for by law.
(3) (a) Any medically necessary services performed pursuant to this section
shall be performed only by a provider who is licensed by the state and acting within
the scope of the provider's license and in accordance with applicable federal
regulations.
(b) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2021.)
(4) (a) Any physician who renders necessary medical services pursuant to
subsection (2) of this section shall report the following information to the state
department:
(I) The age of the pregnant woman and the gestational age of the unborn
child at the time the necessary medical services were performed;
(II) The necessary medical services which were performed;
(III) The medical condition which necessitated the performance of necessary
medical services;
(IV) The date such necessary medical services were performed and the name
of the facility in which such services were performed.
(b) The information required to be reported pursuant to paragraph (a) of this
subsection (4) shall be compiled by the state department and such compilation
shall be an ongoing public record; except that the privacy of the pregnant woman
and the attending physician shall be preserved.
(5) For purposes of this section, pregnancy is a medically diagnosable
condition.
(6) For the purposes of this section:
(a) (I) Death means:
(A) The irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions; or
(B) The irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including
the brain stem.
(II) A determination of death under this section shall be in accordance with
accepted medical standards.
(b) Life-endangering circumstance means:
(I) The presence of a medical condition, other than a psychiatric condition, as
determined by the attending physician, which represents a serious and substantial
threat to the life of the pregnant woman if the pregnancy continues to term;
(II) The presence of a lethal medical condition in the unborn child, as
determined by the attending physician and one other physician, which would result
in the impending death of the unborn child during the term of pregnancy or at birth;
or
(III) The presence of a psychiatric condition which represents a serious and
substantial threat to the life of the pregnant woman if the pregnancy continues to
term. In such case, unless the pregnant woman has been receiving prolonged
psychiatric care, the attending licensed physician shall obtain consultation from a
licensed physician specializing in psychiatry confirming the presence of such a
psychiatric condition. The attending physician shall report the findings of such
consultation to the state department.
(c) Necessary medical services means any medical procedures deemed
necessary to prevent the death of a pregnant woman or her unborn child due to life-endangering circumstances.
(7) If any provision of this section or application thereof is held invalid, such
invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this section which can
be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the
provisions of this section are declared severable.
(8) Use of the term unborn child in this section is solely for the purposes of
facilitating the implementation of section 50 of article V of the state constitution,
and its use shall not affect any other law or statute nor shall it create any
presumptions relating to the legal status of an unborn child or create or affect any
distinction between the legal status of an unborn child and the legal status of a
fetus.
(9) This section shall be repealed if section 50 of article V of the Colorado
constitution is repealed.
25.5-4-415. No public funds for abortion - exception - definitions - repeal.
(Repealed) [ Editor's note: This version of this section is effective January 1, 2026. ]