2016 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 19 - Children's Code
Article 1 - General Provisions
Part 3 - Records and Information
§ 19-1-302. Legislative declaration

(1) (a) The general assembly declares that information obtained by public agencies in the course of performing their duties and functions under this title is considered public information under the "Colorado Open Records Act", part 2 of article 72 of title 24, C.R.S. The general assembly, however, recognizes that certain information obtained in the course of the implementation of this title is highly sensitive and has an impact on the privacy of children and members of their families. The disclosure of sensitive information carries the risk of stigmatizing children; however, absolute confidentiality of such information may result in duplicated services in some cases, fragmented services in others, and the delivery of ineffective and costly programs and, in some situations, may put other members of the public at risk of harm. In addition, disclosure may result in serving the best interests of the child and may be in the public interest.

(b) Furthermore, the general assembly specifically finds that schools, school districts, and criminal justice agencies attempting to protect children and the public are often frustrated by their lack of ability to exchange information concerning disruptive children who may have experienced disciplinary actions at school or whose actions outside of a school setting may have resulted in contact with local law enforcement. The general assembly finds that schools, school districts, and criminal justice agencies are often better able to assist such disruptive children and to preserve school safety when they are equipped with knowledge concerning a child's history and experiences. The general assembly, however, recognizes that any such sharing of information among and between schools, school districts, and agencies to promote school safety or otherwise to assist disruptive children mandates an awareness of the responsibility on the part of those schools, school districts, and agencies receiving or providing the information that it be used only for its intended and limited purpose as authorized by law and that the confidential nature of the information be preserved. The general assembly finds, therefore, that it is desirable to authorize and encourage open communication among appropriate agencies, including criminal justice agencies, assessment centers for children, school districts, and schools, in order to assist disruptive children and to maintain safe schools.

(c) The general assembly further finds that partners in multi-agency assessment centers for children are often frustrated by their lack of ability to exchange information with each other when attempting to serve children and the public. The general assembly finds that assessment centers for children are better able to assist children when they are equipped with knowledge concerning a child's history and experiences. The general assembly, however, recognizes that any such sharing of information among agencies who are part of a multi-agency assessment center for children mandates an awareness of the responsibility on the part of the agencies receiving or providing the information that it be used only for its intended and limited purpose as authorized by law and that the confidential nature of the information be preserved.

(d) The general assembly recognizes the importance of children receiving support from all responsible parties and further finds that the state child support enforcement agency and the delegate child support enforcement units have a need to exchange information with other state, federal, and local agencies in order to effectively locate responsible parties; establish paternity and child support, including child support debt pursuant to section 14-14-104, C.R.S.; enforce support orders; disburse collected child support payments; and facilitate the efficient and effective delivery of services under articles 13 and 13.5 of title 26, C.R.S. Therefore, the general assembly recognizes that the state child support enforcement agency and the delegate child support enforcement units need access to the records and databases of the judicial department, the contents of which are otherwise protected under the provisions of this part 3. The general assembly, however, recognizes that any such information sharing mandates an awareness of responsibility on the part of the state child support enforcement agency and the delegate child support enforcement units receiving information that it be used only for its intended purposes as authorized by law and in accordance with the provisions of section 26-13-102.7, C.R.S., and that the confidential nature of the information be preserved.

(e) The general assembly recognizes the need to make recommendations to the court concerning the many aspects of a child's legal status, including but not limited to existing court orders on placement of the child, legal custody of the child, and orders of protection. Because the population of this state is transitory, and jurisdictional lines for the purpose of court actions are arbitrary, communication of certain information available electronically on a statewide basis may assist state and county agencies, attorneys representing state or county agencies, and attorneys appointed by the court in making recommendations to the court. The general assembly recognizes that any such sharing of information among agencies, attorneys representing agencies, and attorneys appointed by the court mandates an awareness of the responsibility on the part of these agencies, attorneys representing agencies, and attorneys appointed by the court in receiving and providing the information that it be used only for its intended and limited purpose as authorized by law and that the confidential nature of the information be preserved.

(2) Therefore, in an effort to balance the best interests of children and the privacy interests of children and their families with the need to share information among service agencies and schools and the need to protect the safety of schools and the public at large, the general assembly enacts the provisions of this part 3.