As used in this article 91, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. (1) Board means the child's representative board appointed pursuant to section 13-91-104 (2)(a).
2. (1.5) Child means a person who is under eighteen years of age.
3. (2) Contract entity means a nonprofit entity with which the state judicial department may contract for the coordination and support of CASA activities in the state of Colorado.
4. (2.5) Counsel for youth means an attorney-at-law who provides specialized client-directed legal representation for a child or youth and who owes the same duties, including undivided loyalty, confidentiality, and competent representation, to the child or youth as is due an adult client. Counsel for youth may be appointed by the court to represent a child or youth in a proceeding pursuant to article 1, 3, or 7 of title 19, or may be assigned by the office of the child's representative pursuant to article 7 of title 19. Counsel for youth does not mean defense counsel for a juvenile pursuant to article 2.5 of title 19.
5. (3) Court-appointed special advocate or CASA volunteer means a trained volunteer appointed by the court pursuant to the provisions of part 2 of article 1 of title 19, section 14-10-116, or title 15 in a judicial district to aid the court by providing independent and objective information, as directed by the court, regarding children and youth involved in actions brought pursuant to section 14-10-116 or title 15 or 19.
6. (4) Guardian ad litem or GAL means a person appointed by a court to act in the best interests of a child involved in a proceeding under title 19, C.R.S., or the School Attendance Law of 1963, set forth in article 33 of title 22, C.R.S., and who, if appointed to represent a child in a dependency or neglect proceeding pursuant to article 3 of title 19, C.R.S., shall be an attorney-at-law licensed to practice in Colorado.
7. (5) Local CASA program means a CASA program established pursuant to part 2 of article 1 of title 19, C.R.S.
8. (6) Representative of a child means an attorney appointed by a court pursuant to section 14-10-116, C.R.S., to represent the best interests of a minor or dependent child.
9. (7) Youth means an individual who is less than twenty-one years of age or such greater age of foster care eligibility as required by federal law.

Source: L. 2000: Entire article added, p. 1767, § 1, effective July 1. L. 2003: (3) amended, p. 753, § 1, effective March 25. L. 2021: IP amended and (2.5) and (7) added, (HB 21-1094), ch. 340, p. 2220, § 8, effective June 25. L. 2022: (2.5) amended, (HB 22-1038), ch. 92, p. 431, § 2, effective January 9, 2023. L. 2024: (3) amended, (HB 24-1377), ch. 254, p. 1674, § 1, effective August 7. L. 2025: (1) amended and (1.5) added, (SB 25-275), ch. 377, p. 2043, § 64, effective August 6.

Cross references: For the legislative declaration in HB 22-1038, see section 1 of chapter 92, Session Laws of Colorado 2022.