Legislative declaration

(1) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that trauma is the greatest single cause of death and disability in Colorado for persons under the age of forty-five years and that trauma care is a unique type of emergency medical service. (2) The general assembly further finds that a trauma system task force made up of various emergency health and trauma care entities submitted a report to the general assembly in 1993 indicating a compelling need to develop and implement a statewide trauma care system in order to assure that appropriate resources are available to trauma victims from the point of injury through rehabilitative care. In addition, a statewide system is essential to provide Colorado residents and visitors with a greater probability of surviving a life-threatening injury and to reduce trauma-related morbidity and mortality in this state. (3) The general assembly, therefore, declares that it is necessary to enact legislation directing the board of health to adopt rules that govern the implementation and oversight of the trauma care system. The general assembly further declares that to ensure the availability and coordination of resources necessary to provide essential care, it is necessary to enact legislation that directs the department of public health and environment to collaborate with existing agencies and organizations, including governing bodies for counties and cities and counties, in implementing and monitoring a statewide trauma care system.