Legislative declaration

(1) In order to promote the public health and welfare of the people of Colorado, it is declared to be in the public interest to establish minimum standards and rules for home care agencies in the state of Colorado and to provide the authority for the administration and enforcement of such minimum standards and rules. These standards and rules shall be sufficient to assure the health, safety, and welfare of home care consumers. (2) The general assembly further finds that the department of public health and environment, as the executive branch agency assigned to administer and enforce minimum standards for home care agencies, should explore whether risk-based inspections may be implemented to allocate resources more effectively and at the same time adequately protect the health and safety of the home care consumers. Risk shall be evaluated based on the home care agency's compliance history, quality performance measures, and other relevant factors set forth in rules promulgated by the state board of health. (3) Further, the general assembly determines and declares that, in administering and enforcing standards for home care agencies, the inspections by the department should focus on home care consumer safety and outcomes.