Colorado Code § 25-4-412

Public safety - public health procedures - orders for compliance - petitions - hearings
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(1) An order or restrictive measure directed to a person with a sexually
transmitted infection must only be used as the last resort when other measures to protect the
public health have failed, including all reasonable efforts, which must be documented, to obtain
the voluntary cooperation of the person who may be subject to the order or restrictive measure.
The order or restrictive measure must be applied serially with the least intrusive measures used
first. The state department or local public health agency has the burden of proof to show that
specified grounds exist for the issuance of the order or restrictive measure and that the terms and
conditions imposed are no more restrictive than necessary to protect the public health.
(2) When the executive director or the local director, within his or her respective
jurisdiction, knows or has reason to believe, because of evidence-based, medical, or
epidemiological information, that a person has a sexually transmitted infection and poses a
credible risk to the public health, he or she may issue an order to:
(a) Require the person to be examined and tested to determine whether he or she has
acquired a sexually transmitted infection;
(b) Require him or her to report to a qualified health-care provider for counseling
regarding sexually transmitted infections, information on treatment, and how to avoid
transmitting sexually transmitted infections to others; or
(c) Direct a person with a sexually transmitted infection to cease and desist from specific
conduct that poses risks to the public health, but only if the executive director or local director
has determined that clear and convincing evidence exists to believe that such person has been
ordered to report for counseling or has received counseling by a qualified health-care provider
and continues to demonstrate behavior that poses an evidence-based risk to the public health.
(3) (a) If a person violates a cease-and-desist order issued pursuant to paragraph (c) of
subsection (2) of this section and it is shown that the person poses an evidence-based risk to the
public health, the executive director or the local director may enforce the cease-and-desist order
by imposing such restrictions upon the person as are necessary to prevent the specific conduct
that risks the public health. Restrictions may include required participation in evaluative,
therapeutic, and counseling programs.
(b) Any restriction must be in writing, setting forth the name of the person to be
restricted; the initial period of time that the restrictive order is effective, not to exceed three
months; the terms of the restrictions; and any other conditions necessary to protect the public
health. Restrictions must be imposed in the least restrictive manner necessary to protect the
public health.
(c) The executive director or local director who issues an order pursuant to this
subsection (3) shall review petitions for reconsideration from the person affected by the order.
Restriction orders issued by local directors shall be submitted for review and approval by the
executive director.
(4) (a) (I) Upon the issuance of an order by the state department or a local public health
agency pursuant to subsection (2) or (3) of this section, the state department or local public
health agency shall give notice promptly, personally, and confidentially to the person who is the
subject of the order. The notice must state the grounds and provisions of the order and notify the
person who is the subject of the order that he or she has the right to refuse to comply with the
order, that he or she has the right to be present at a judicial hearing in the district court to review
the order, and that he or she may have an attorney appear on his or her behalf at the hearing. If a
respondent to any such action cannot afford an attorney, one shall be appointed for him or her at
the commencement of the court process.
(II) If the person who is the subject of the order refuses to comply with the order and
refuses to voluntarily cooperate with the executive director or local director, the executive
director or local director may petition the district court for an order of compliance with the order.
The executive director or local director shall request that the county or city and county attorney,
or district public health agency, file such petition in the district court. However, if the county or
city and county attorney, or district public health agency, refuses to act, the executive director
may file such petition and be represented by the attorney general.
(III) If an order of compliance is requested, the court shall hear the matter within
fourteen days following the request. Notice of the place, date, and time of the hearing must be by
personal service or, if the person who is the subject of the order is not available, mailed by
prepaid certified mail, return receipt requested, at the person's last-known address. Proof of
mailing by the state department or local public health agency is sufficient notice under this
section. The state department or local public health agency has the burden of proof to show by
clear and convincing evidence that the specified grounds exist for the issuance of the order, the
need for compliance, and the terms and conditions imposed in the order are no more restrictive
than necessary to protect the public health.
(IV) An officer or employee of the state department or a local public health agency must
not be examined in any judicial, legislative, executive, or other proceedings as to the existence or
content of any individual's report, other than the respondent in a proceeding authorized by this
section, made by such department or agency pursuant to this part 4; the existence of the content
of the reports received pursuant to section 25-4-405; or the result of an investigation conducted
pursuant to section 25-4-408.
(V) Upon the conclusion of the hearing, the court shall issue appropriate orders
affirming, modifying, or dismissing the original order.
(b) If the executive director or local director does not petition the district court for an
order of compliance within thirty days after the person who is the subject of the order refuses to
comply, the person may petition the district court for dismissal of the order. If the district court
dismisses the order, the fact that the order was issued must be expunged from the records of the
state department or the local public health agency.
(5) Any hearing conducted pursuant to this section must be closed and confidential, and
any transcripts or records related to the hearing are also confidential.

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