As used in this part 7, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. (1) Bioterrorism means the intentional use of microorganisms or toxins of biological origin to cause death or disease among humans or animals.
2. (2) Repealed.
3. (3) Disaster means the occurrence or imminent threat of widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life or property resulting from any natural cause or cause of human origin, including but not limited to fire; flood; earthquake; wind; storm; wave action; hazardous substance incident; oil spill or other water contamination requiring emergency action to avert danger or damage; volcanic activity; epidemic; air pollution; blight; drought; infestation; explosion; civil disturbance; hostile military or paramilitary action; a market disruption, including a trade disruption or an atypical disruption in the market that affects production, distribution, or consumption of a product or service; or a condition of riot, insurrection, or invasion existing in the state or in any county, city, town, or district in the state.
4. (3.5) Emergency means an unexpected event that places life or property in danger and requires an immediate response through the use of state and community resources and procedures.
5. (4) Emergency epidemic means cases of an illness or condition, communicable or noncommunicable, caused by bioterrorism, pandemic influenza, or novel and highly fatal infectious agents or biological toxins.
6. (4.3) Emergency management means the actions taken to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disasters and mitigate against current and future risk.
7. (4.5) Mitigation means the sustained action to reduce or eliminate risk to people and property from hazards and their effects.
8. (5) Pandemic influenza means a widespread epidemic of influenza caused by a highly virulent strain of the influenza virus.
9. (6) Political subdivision means any county, city and county, city, or town and may include any other agency designated by law as a political subdivision of the state.

10. (7)

    1. (a) Publicly funded safety net program means a program that is administered by a state department and that:

       1. (I) Is funded wholly or in part with state, federal, or a combination of state and federal funds; and
       2. (II) Provides or facilitates the provision of medical services to vulnerable populations, including children, disabled individuals, and the elderly.
    2. (b) The term includes a program of medical assistance, as defined in section 25.5-1-103 (5), C.R.S.
    3. (7.3) Recovery means the short, intermediate, and long-term actions taken to restore community functions, services, vital resources, facilities, programs, continuity of local government services and functions, and infrastructure to the affected area.
    4. (7.5) Resiliency means the ability of communities to rebound, positively adapt to, or thrive amidst changing conditions or challenges, including human-caused and natural disasters, and to maintain quality of life, healthy growth, durable systems, economic vitality, and conservation of resources for present and future generations.
    5. (7.7) Response means the actions taken directly following the onset of an emergency or disaster to provide immediate assistance to maintain life, improve health, protect property, restore essential functions, and ensure the security of the affected population.
11. (8) Search and rescue means the employment, coordination, and utilization of available resources and personnel in locating, relieving distress and preserving life of, and removing survivors from the site of a disaster, emergency, or hazard to a place of safety in case of lost, stranded, entrapped, or injured persons.

Source: L. 2012: Entire part RC&RE with relocations, (HB 12-1283), ch. 240, p. 1071, § 10, effective July 1. L. 2018: (2) amended and (3.5), (4.3), (4.5), (7.3), (7.5), and (7.7) added, (HB 18-1394), ch. 234, p. 1459, § 3, effective August 8. L. 2025: (2) repealed, (HB 25-1027), ch. 65, p. 273, § 7, effective April 10; (3) amended, (HB 25-1010), ch. 174, p. 726, § 1, effective August 6.

Editor's note: (1) This section is similar to former § 24-32-2103 as it existed prior to 2012.

(2) Section 3(2) of chapter 174 (HB 25-1010), Session Laws of Colorado 2025, provides that the act changing this section applies to conduct occurring on or after August 6, 2025.