§ 25-1-502 — Definitions

Colorado § 25-1-502

• Jurisdiction: Colorado
• Title 25: Public
• Art.: Administration

Text

As used in this part 5, unless the context otherwise
requires:

(1) Agency means a county or district public health agency established
pursuant to section 25-1-506.

(2) Core public health shall be defined by the state board and shall include,
but need not be limited to, the assessment of health status and health risks,
development of policies to protect and promote health, and assurance of the
provision of the essential public health services.

(2.3) County or district board means a county or district board of health
appointed pursuant to section 25-1-508.

(2.5) Dementia diseases and related disabilities is a condition where mental
ability declines and is severe enough to interfere with an individual's ability to
perform everyday tasks. Dementia diseases and related disabilities includes
Alzheimer's disease, mixed dementia, Lewy body dementia, vascular dementia,
frontotemporal dementia, and other types of dementia.

(3) Essential public health services means to:

(a) Monitor health status to identify and solve community health problems;

(b) Investigate and diagnose health problems and health hazards in the
community;

(c) Inform, educate, and empower individuals about health issues;

(d) Mobilize public and private sector collaboration and action to identify and
solve health problems;

(e) Develop policies, plans, and programs that support individual and
community health efforts;

(f) Enforce laws and rules that protect health and promote safety;

(g) Link individuals to needed personal health services and ensure the
provision of health care;

(h) Encourage a competent public health workforce;

(i) Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and
population-based public health services; and

(j) Contribute to research into insightful and innovative solutions to health
problems.

(4) Medical officer means a volunteer or paid licensed physician who
contracts with or is employed by a county or district public health agency to advise
the public health director on medical decisions if the public health director is not a
licensed physician.

(5) Public health means the prevention of injury, disease, and premature
mortality; the promotion of health in the community; and the response to public and
environmental health needs and emergencies and is accomplished through the
provision of essential public health services.

(6) Public health agency means an organization operated by a federal,
state, or local government or its designees that acts principally to protect or
preserve the public's health. Public health agency includes a county public health
agency or a district public health agency.

(7) Public health director means the administrative and executive head of
each county or district public health agency.

(8) Public health system means state, county, and district public health
agencies and other persons and organizations that provide public health services or
promote public health.

(9) State board means the state board of health created pursuant to
section 25-1-103.

(10) State department means the department of public health and
environment created pursuant to section 25-1-102.

Legislative History

Source: L. 2008: Entire part R&RE, p. 2031, � 1, effective July 1. L. 2018: (2.5) added, (HB 18-1091), ch. 74, p. 642, � 1, effective August 8. L. 2025: (2.3) added, (SB 25-275), ch. 377, p. 2075, � 202, effective August 6.