C.R.S. Section 25-4-2205
Powers and duties of the office of health equity

  • rules
  • working group

(1)

The purpose of the office is to serve in a coordinating, educating, and capacity-building role for state and local public health programs and community-based organizations promoting health equity in Colorado by implementing strategies tailored to address the varying complex causes of health disparities, including the economic, physical, and social environment. The office shall work collaboratively within the department and with affected stakeholders to set priorities, collect and disseminate data, and align resources within the department and across other state agencies.

(2)

The office has the following powers, duties, and functions:

(a)

Administering and coordinating the health disparities and community grant program created in section 25-4-2203;

(b)

Leading and coordinating the department’s health equity efforts;

(c)

Publishing data reports documenting health disparities and establishing appropriate methods to collect and disaggregate data based on race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity for inclusion in data reports documenting health disparities;

(d)

Providing education to the public on health equity, health disparities, and the social determinants of health;

(e)

Coordinating the interpretation and translation services within the department and offering technical assistance to other state and local agencies;

(f)

Building capacity within communities to offer or expand public health programs to better meet the needs of a diverse population;

(g)

Conducting state-level strategic planning on minority health improvement, which includes those individuals who identify as racial and ethnic minorities, who have diagnosed disabilities, and whose sexual orientation or gender identity includes but is not limited to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and nonbinary;

(h)

Providing technical assistance to:

(I)

The department in carrying out its programs, including data collection and disaggregation of confidential health data, in accordance with federal and state data privacy laws, rules, and regulations and federal contracts, relating to race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity; and

(II)

County, district, and municipal public health agencies, community-based organizations, and communities in the state;
(i)
Promoting workforce diversity within public health systems;

(j)

Coordinating and staffing the health equity commission created in section 25-4-2206;

(k)

Repealed.

(l)

Building collaborative partnerships with communities to identify and promote health equity strategies; and

(m)

Developing communications strategies regarding health equity.

(2.3)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

The state board shall promulgate rules necessary for the collection of data by the office for purposes of its reporting on health disparities pursuant to subsection (2)(c) of this section, including rules concerning:

(I)

The requirement to collect data, to the extent permissible under applicable federal and state data privacy laws, rules, and regulations and federal contracts, from entities identified in subsection (2)(h) of this section that serve individuals who choose to provide the data;

(II)

The demographic information to be collected and the time frame for collecting the data to ensure consistency in the collection of data; and

(III)

The disaggregation and reporting of confidential health data, in accordance with federal and state data privacy laws, rules, and regulations and federal contracts, to protect sensitive medical information or personally identifying information.

(b)

The rules promulgated pursuant to subsection (2.3)(a) of this section must apply to all state and county, district, and municipal public health agencies, as described in section 25-1-506; public health directors, as described in section 25-1-509; and other persons required to collect and report data to the department.
(2.5)(a)(I) On or before July 1, 2022, and continuing every two years thereafter, the department shall conduct an assessment and publish a report concerning health disparities and inequities in Colorado that includes an assessment of the impact of social determinants of health on health disparities and inequities and recommended strategies to begin to address such inequities. The department shall collaborate with the commission, community partners working on health equity issues, local public health agencies, stakeholders from affected communities, data organizations, and other state and local partners in the creation of the report. In addition to providing information to the public about the impact of health disparities and inequities on Coloradans, each state agency that has representation on the commission shall use the report in their plan as described in subsection (2.5)(b)(I) of this section. In each report after the first published report, the department shall report the progress made by the commission pursuant to subsection (2.5)(b) of this section to address the social determinants of health and the strategies used to address health disparities and inequities.

(II)

Not later than July 1, 2023, for any report published pursuant to subsection (2.5)(a)(I) of this section that does not include complete reporting on race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity, as that data becomes available, each state agency that is represented on the commission shall provide a supplemental report that includes progress made by the commission to address the social determinants of health and the strategies used to address health disparities and inequities based on race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

(a.5)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(I)

To assist with the department’s assessment and reporting required pursuant to subsection (2.5)(a) of this section concerning health disparities and inequities, not later than November 1, 2022, the commission shall convene a data advisory working group to advise the commission in carrying out its duties under subsections (2)(c) and (2)(h) of this section.

(II)

The data advisory working group shall make recommendations to the commission concerning the process for collecting and aggregating nonidentifying demographic data for Colorado residents relating to race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity:

(A)

As part of public health programs;

(B)

From information collected to evaluate public health conditions in the state; and

(C)

From data acquired from data sources or submitted to the department.

(III)

The data advisory working group shall include:

(A)

One member of the department, appointed by the executive director of the department;

(B)

Three serving members of the commission, appointed by the director of the office, with a preference for members having experience in data and reporting, working with county or district public health agencies in data collection, or working with or on behalf of department data collectors or vendors;

(C)

One member of a nonprofit organization, appointed by the director of the office, who has experience in administering data collection instruments and reports relating to the COVID-19 virus, vaccines, and health care as it impacts individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or nonbinary and whose work is recognized at the state and national level;

(D)

One member of a nonprofit organization, appointed by the director of the office, who has experience in administering data collection instruments and reports relating to the COVID-19 virus, vaccines, and health care as it impacts individuals who have been diagnosed with a disability and whose work is recognized at the state or national level; and

(E)

Two members of nonprofit organizations, appointed by the director of the office, who have experience in administering data collection instruments and reports related to individuals who identify as Hispanic or Latino, African American or Black, Asian, American Pacific Islander, and indigenous and whose work is recognized at the state or national level.

(b)

Within six months after the publication of the first report required in subsection (2.5)(a) of this section:

(I)

The governor shall convene the commission to conduct a strategic planning process and develop an equity strategic plan, to respond to the report, and to ensure that there is coordination in equity-related work across state agencies to address the social determinants of health in each agency’s respective areas. The strategic planning process must include input from community stakeholders and policymakers. The department may collaborate with the health disparities and community grant program created in section 25-4-2203 to address issues identified by the equity strategic plan.

(II)

Each member of the commission that represents a state agency shall develop a plan to address the social determinants of health relevant to that state agency as they affect health disparities and inequities. Each state agency shall dedicate up to twenty hours of staff time to the development and implementation of the equity strategic plan.

(3)

The office shall report to the executive director of the department or his or her designee, at the discretion of the executive director.

Source: Section 25-4-2205 — Powers and duties of the office of health equity - rules - working group, https://leg.­colorado.­gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-25.­pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).

25‑4‑101
Premises sanitation - food defined 25‑4‑102
Sanitary regulations 25‑4‑103
Construction requirements 25‑4‑104
Protection from dirt 25‑4‑105
Toilet rooms and lavatories 25‑4‑106
Nuisances - petty offense 25‑4‑107
Rooms not used for sleeping 25‑4‑108
Work by persons with contagious diseases - forbidden 25‑4‑109
Enforcement 25‑4‑110
Prosecutions - disposition of fines 25‑4‑111
Penalty 25‑4‑112
Rules 25‑4‑201
Pregnant woman to take blood test 25‑4‑203
Birth certificate - blood test 25‑4‑204
Penalty 25‑4‑205
District attorneys to prosecute 25‑4‑301
Inflammation of eyes 25‑4‑401
Legislative declaration 25‑4‑402
Definitions 25‑4‑403
Eligibility - nondiscrimination 25‑4‑404
Rules 25‑4‑405
Reporting requirements - immunity 25‑4‑406
Reports - confidentiality 25‑4‑407
Reporting requirements - research exemption 25‑4‑408
Infection control - duties 25‑4‑409
Minors - treatment - consent 25‑4‑410
Patient consent - rights of patients, victims, and pregnant women 25‑4‑411
Confidential counseling and testing sites - legislative declaration 25‑4‑412
Public safety - public health procedures - orders for compliance - petitions - hearings 25‑4‑413
Emergency public health procedures - injunctions 25‑4‑414
Penalties 25‑4‑500.3
Definitions 25‑4‑501
Tuberculosis declared to be an infectious and communicable disease 25‑4‑502
Tuberculosis to be reported 25‑4‑506
Investigation and examination of suspected or known tuberculosis cases 25‑4‑507
Isolation order - enforcement - court review 25‑4‑508
Inspection of records 25‑4‑509
Violations - penalty 25‑4‑510
Jurisdiction 25‑4‑511
Duties of board of health and department - confidentiality of records - rules 25‑4‑512
Nondiscrimination in the provision of general services 25‑4‑513
Funding 25‑4‑601
Definitions 25‑4‑602
Notice to health department or officer if animal affected or suspected of being affected by rabies 25‑4‑603
Report of person bitten by animal to health department or health officer 25‑4‑604
Animal attacking or biting person to be confined - examination 25‑4‑605
Animals bitten by animals known or suspected of having rabies to be confined 25‑4‑606
Animals to be confined to prevent spread of rabies 25‑4‑607
Order of board of health requiring inoculation of animals - veterinarian waiver of order 25‑4‑608
Notice of order requiring inoculation of animals 25‑4‑609
Effect of order requiring inoculation of animals 25‑4‑610
Uninoculated animals not to run at large - impounding and disposition of animals 25‑4‑611
Report to state department 25‑4‑612
Enforcement of part 6 25‑4‑613
Liability for accident or subsequent disease from inoculation 25‑4‑614
Penalties 25‑4‑615
Further municipal restrictions not prohibited 25‑4‑701
Definitions 25‑4‑702
Board to establish rules - department to administer 25‑4‑709
Quarantine 25‑4‑710
Right of entry - inspections 25‑4‑712
Unlawful acts 25‑4‑713
Penalty for violations 25‑4‑901
Definitions 25‑4‑902
Immunization prior to attending school - standardized immunization information 25‑4‑902.5
Immunization prior to attending a college or university - tuberculosis screening process development 25‑4‑903
Exemptions from immunization - rules 25‑4‑904
Rules - immunization rules - rule-making authority of state board of health 25‑4‑904.5
Annual alignment evaluation 25‑4‑905
Immunization of indigent children 25‑4‑906
Certificate of immunization - forms 25‑4‑907
Noncompliance 25‑4‑908
When exemption from immunization not recognized 25‑4‑909
Vaccine-related injury or death - limitations on liability 25‑4‑910
Immunization data collection 25‑4‑911
Vaccinated children standard - legislative declaration 25‑4‑912
Confidentiality 25‑4‑1001
Short title 25‑4‑1002
Legislative declaration 25‑4‑1002.5
Definitions 25‑4‑1003
Powers and duties of executive director - newborn screening programs - genetic counseling and education programs - rules 25‑4‑1004
Newborn screening - rules 25‑4‑1004.3
Newborn heart defect screening - pulse oximetry - rules - definition 25‑4‑1004.5
Follow-up testing and treatment - second screening - fee - rules 25‑4‑1004.7
Newborn hearing screening - advisory committee - report - rules 25‑4‑1005
Exceptions 25‑4‑1006
Cash funds 25‑4‑1201
Powers and duties of executive director 25‑4‑1202
Streptococcus cash fund 25‑4‑1301
Legislative declaration 25‑4‑1302
Definitions 25‑4‑1303
Labeling - product modules - take-home containers 25‑4‑1304
Bulk food protection 25‑4‑1305
Bulk food display 25‑4‑1306
Dispensing utensils 25‑4‑1307
Materials 25‑4‑1308
Food-contact surfaces 25‑4‑1309
Non-food-contact surfaces 25‑4‑1310
Accessibility 25‑4‑1311
Equipment sanitization 25‑4‑1312
Violation - penalty 25‑4‑1313
Rules and regulations 25‑4‑1314
Limitation 25‑4‑1401
Drug assistance program - program fund - HIV medications rebate fund - created - legislative declaration - no entitlement created 25‑4‑1402
Definitions 25‑4‑1403
Colorado HIV and AIDS prevention grant program 25‑4‑1404
Grant program - rules - conflict of interest 25‑4‑1405
AIDS and HIV prevention fund - administration - limitation 25‑4‑1501
Legislative declaration 25‑4‑1502
Definitions 25‑4‑1503
Fund created 25‑4‑1504
Allocation of fund 25‑4‑1505
Powers and duties of department and advisory board 25‑4‑1601
Legislative declaration 25‑4‑1602
Definitions 25‑4‑1603
Licensing, certification, and food protection agency 25‑4‑1604
Powers and duties of department - rules 25‑4‑1605
Submission of plans for approval - required 25‑4‑1606
Licensure - exception 25‑4‑1607
Fees 25‑4‑1607.5
Retail food establishment regulation - fees - investigations - stakeholder process 25‑4‑1607.7
Health inspection results - development of a uniform system - communication to the public 25‑4‑1607.9
Department targets - audits - reporting 25‑4‑1608
Food protection cash fund - creation 25‑4‑1609.5
Grievance process 25‑4‑1610
Unlawful acts 25‑4‑1611.5
Violations - penalties - review 25‑4‑1612
Judicial review 25‑4‑1614
Home kitchens - exemption - food inspection - short title - definitions - rules 25‑4‑1615
Pet dogs in retail food establishments - prohibited - exceptions 25‑4‑1616
Food donations to nonprofit organizations encouraged 25‑4‑1617
Animal shares and meat sales by farmers and ranchers - short title - definitions 25‑4‑1701
Short title 25‑4‑1702
Legislative declaration 25‑4‑1703
Definitions 25‑4‑1704
Infant immunization program - delegation of authority to immunize minor 25‑4‑1705
Department of public health and environment - powers and duties - rules 25‑4‑1706
Infant immunization program - eligibility 25‑4‑1707
Moneys targeted for medical assistance for infants - reimbursement 25‑4‑1708
Fund created 25‑4‑1709
Limitations on liability 25‑4‑1801
Short title 25‑4‑1802
Legislative declaration 25‑4‑1803
Definitions 25‑4‑1804
Department designated as certifying and inspecting agency 25‑4‑1805
Powers and duties of department - rules 25‑4‑1806
Shellfish dealers - certificate required - application - fees 25‑4‑1807
Record-keeping requirements 25‑4‑1808
Unlawful acts 25‑4‑1809
Inspections - investigations - access - subpoena 25‑4‑1810
Enforcement 25‑4‑1811
Disciplinary actions - denial of certification 25‑4‑1812
Civil penalties 25‑4‑1813
Criminal penalties 25‑4‑1901
Short title 25‑4‑1902
Definitions 25‑4‑1903
Gulf war syndrome registry - creation - reporting 25‑4‑1905
Confidentiality of information collected 25‑4‑1906
Gulf war syndrome registry fund 25‑4‑2001
Short title 25‑4‑2002
Legislative declaration 25‑4‑2003
Definitions 25‑4‑2004
Powers and duties of executive director - hepatitis C program 25‑4‑2005
Hepatitis C testing - recommendations - definitions 25‑4‑2101
Powers and duties of department - rules 25‑4‑2102
Penalties for violations 25‑4‑2103
Parental consent for minors 25‑4‑2201
Legislative declaration 25‑4‑2202
Definitions 25‑4‑2203
Health disparities and community grant program - rules 25‑4‑2204
Office of health equity - creation 25‑4‑2205
Powers and duties of the office of health equity - rules - working group 25‑4‑2206
Health equity commission - creation - repeal 25‑4‑2208
Necessary document program - report - definition 25‑4‑2209
Culturally relevant and affirming health-care training - health-care providers - grants - definitions 25‑4‑2301
Colorado immunization fund - supplemental tobacco litigation settlement moneys account - creation 25‑4‑2401
Short title 25‑4‑2402
Legislative declaration 25‑4‑2403
Department of public health and environment - powers and duties - immunization tracking system - rules - definitions 25‑4‑2404
Vaccines - access to the public - definitions 25‑4‑2501
Short title 25‑4‑2502
Definitions 25‑4‑2503
Cervical cancer immunization program - rules 25‑4‑2504
Public awareness campaign - fund
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Current through Fall 2024

§ 25-4-2205’s source at colorado​.gov