Colorado § 25-4-401 Legislative declaration

Colorado Statutes

§ 25-4-401 — Legislative declaration

Colorado § 25-4-401

Title 25Public

Art.Disease Control

This text of Colorado § 25-4-401 (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. § 25-4-401 (2026).

Text

(1)The general assembly declares that:

(a)Sexually transmitted infections, regardless of the mode of transmission, impact the public health of the state and are a matter of statewide concern;

(b)Coloradans have a right to receive accurate, confidential, and timely information to make informed decisions that promote their individual physical and mental health and well-being. This right applies to all Coloradans, regardless of geographic location, ethnic or racial background, income, ability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation.

(c)Positive, stigma-free messages and comprehensive, evidence-based information must be available to create healthy, safe relationships and a healthier Colorado; and

(d)It is the responsibility of any individual who has k

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(1) The general assembly declares that:

(a) Sexually transmitted infections, regardless of the mode of transmission,
impact the public health of the state and are a matter of statewide concern;

(b) Coloradans have a right to receive accurate, confidential, and timely
information to make informed decisions that promote their individual physical and
mental health and well-being. This right applies to all Coloradans, regardless of
geographic location, ethnic or racial background, income, ability, gender, gender
identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation.

(c) Positive, stigma-free messages and comprehensive, evidence-based
information must be available to create healthy, safe relationships and a healthier
Colorado; and

(d) It is the responsibility of any individual who has knowledge or reasonable
grounds to suspect that he or she has a sexually transmitted infection to not
intentionally transmit the infection to another individual.

(2) The general assembly further declares that:

(a) Reporting sexually transmitted infections to public health agencies is
essential to enable a better understanding of the scope of exposure and the impact
of the exposure on the community and to optimize means of sexually transmitted
infection control;

(b) Efforts to control sexually transmitted infections include public
education, counseling, voluntary testing, linkage to treatment, prevention, and
access to services;

(c) Restrictive enforcement measures may be used only when necessary to
protect the public health;

(d) Having a sexually transmitted infection, being presumed to have one, or
seeking testing for the presence of such an infection must not serve as the basis for
discriminatory actions or prevent access to services; and

(e) It is the policy of the state to encourage voluntary testing for sexually
transmitted infections and promote linkage to care without perpetuating stigma.

(3) Therefore, the general assembly further declares that the purpose of this
part 4 is to protect the public health, empower individuals to take personal
responsibility for their sexual health, and to prevent infections that may be sexually
transmitted.

Legislative History

Source: L. 2016: Entire part R&RE, (SB 16-146), ch. 230, p. 895, � 1, effective July 1. L. 2021: (1)(b) amended, (HB 21-1108), ch. 156, p. 895, � 34, effective September 7.