§ 25-44-101 — Definitions

Colorado § 25-44-101

• Jurisdiction: Colorado
• Title 25: Public
• Art.: Comprehensive Human Sexuality Education

Text

As used in this article 44, unless the context
otherwise requires:

(1) Age-appropriate means topics, messages, and teaching methods
suitable to a particular age or age group, based on developing cognitive, emotional,
and behavioral capacity typical for the age or age group.

(2) Repealed.

(3) Comprehensive human sexuality education means medically accurate
information about all methods to prevent unintended pregnancy and sexually
transmitted infections, including HIV, the link between human papillomavirus and
cancer, and other types of cancer involving the human reproductive systems,
including prostate, testicular, ovarian, and uterine cancer. Methods must include
information about the correct and consistent use of abstinence, contraception,
condoms, other barrier methods, and other prevention measures. Additional
contents of comprehensive human sexuality education must include:

(a) Encouraging family communication about sexuality;

(b) Teaching young people to avoid making unwanted verbal, physical, and
sexual advances;

(c) Discussions and information on how to recognize and respond safely and
effectively in situations where sexual or physical violence may be occurring or
where there may be a risk for these behaviors to occur;

(d) Focusing on the development of safe relationships, including the
prevention of sexual violence in dating; and

(e) Teaching young people how alcohol and drug use can affect responsible
decision-making.

(4) Culturally sensitive means the integration of knowledge about
individuals and groups of people into specific standards, requirements, policies,
practices, and attitudes used to increase the quality of services. Culturally
sensitive includes resources, references, and information that are meaningful to
the experiences and needs of communities of color; immigrant communities;
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities; people with physical or
intellectual disabilities; people who have experienced sexual victimization; and
others whose experiences have traditionally been left out of sexual health
education, programs, and policies.

(5) Department means the department of public health and environment,
created and existing pursuant to section 25-1-101.5.

(6) Evidence-based program means a program that:

(a) Was evaluated using a rigorous research design, including:

(I) Measuring knowledge, attitude, and behavior;

(II) Having an adequate sample size;

(III) Using sound research methods and processes;

(IV) Replicating in different locations and finding similar evaluation results;
and

(V) Publishing results in a peer-reviewed journal;

(b) Research has shown to be effective in changing at least one of the
following behaviors that contribute to early pregnancy, sexually transmitted
infections and disease, and HIV infection:

(I) Delaying sexual initiation;

(II) Reducing the frequency of sexual intercourse;

(III) Reducing the number of sexual partners; or

(IV) Increasing the use of condoms and other contraceptives.

(6.5) Medically accurate has the same meaning as defined in section 22-1-128.

(7) Oversight entity means the interagency youth sexual health team
created in section 25-44-103.

(8) Positive youth development means an approach that emphasizes the
many positive attributes of young people and focuses on developing inherent
strengths and assets to promote health. Positive youth development is culturally
sensitive, age-appropriate, inclusive of all youth, collaborative, and strength-based.

(9) Program means the comprehensive human sexuality education grant
program created in section 25-44-102.

(10) Public school means a school of a school district, a district charter
school, an institute charter school, a facility school, or a board of cooperative
services, as defined in section 22-5-103.

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

Legislative History

Source: L. 2013: Entire article added, (HB 13-1081), ch. 303, p. 1606, � 3, effective May 28. L. 2016: IP(3) amended, (SB 16-146), ch. 230, p. 922, � 24, effective July 1. L. 2019: (2) repealed and (6.5) added, (HB 19-1032), ch. 408, p. 3599, � 3, effective May 31.