ARTICLE 5.7 HOMELESS YOUTH

• Jurisdiction: Colorado

ARTICLE 5.7 Homeless Youth

26-5.7-101. Short title.
26-5.7-102. Definitions.
26-5.7-103. Family reconciliation services.
26-5.7-104. Taking youth into custody - transporting to residence or child care facility or homeless youth shelter.
26-5.7-105. Child care facilities - homeless youth shelters - authority - duties - rules.
26-5.7-106. Notification.
26-5.7-107. Voluntary alternative residence - parental agreement.
26-5.7-108. Voluntary alternative residence - lack of parental agreement.
26-5.7-109. No use of general fund moneys. (Repealed)

■ 26-5.7-101. Short title. This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Homeless Youth Act".

Source: L. 97: Entire article added, p. 977, § 2, effective May 22.

■ 26-5.7-102. Definitions. As used in this article 5.7, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) "County department" means the county, city and county, or district department of human or social services.

(2) (a) "Homeless youth" means a child or youth who is at least eleven years of age but is less than twenty-one years of age and who:

(I) Lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence; or

(II) Has a primary nighttime residence that is:

(A) A supervised, publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations; or

(B) A public or private place not designed for, nor ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.

(b) "Homeless youth" shall not include any individual imprisoned or otherwise detained pursuant to an act of congress or a state law.

(3) "Homeless youth shelter" means a facility that is licensed pursuant to section 26-6-104.

(3.5) "Licensed host family home" means a home that meets the requirements established by the state board by rule pursuant to section 26-6-106 (5).

(4) "Parent" means the legal custodian or guardian of the youth.

(5) "Youth" or "child" means any person who is at least eleven years of age but is less than twenty-one years of age.

Source: L. 97: Entire article added, p. 977, § 2, effective May 22. L. 2011: (2) and (5) amended and (3.5) added, (HB 11-1079), ch. 83, p. 223, § 1, effective August 10. L. 2018: IP and (1) amended, (SB 18-092), ch. 38, p. 449, § 124, effective August 8.

Cross references: For the legislative declaration in SB 18-092, see section 1 of chapter 38, Session Laws of Colorado 2018.

■ 26-5.7-103. Family reconciliation services. (1) Out of moneys appropriated to the state department for family reconciliation services, the state department may elect to contract directly with private nonprofit organizations or entities for the provision of family intervention reconciliation services or pass the moneys to a county department electing to provide such services. In such circumstances, the county department may provide the family intervention reconciliation services directly or the county department may contract with private nonprofit organizations or entities for the provision of such services. The county may also contract with private nonprofit organizations or entities for the provision of voluntary alternative residences pursuant to sections 26-5.7-107 and 26-5.7-108.

(2) Any county department may elect to establish a program to provide services consistent with this article. If a county department so elects, it shall notify the state department of such action, and any homeless youth or any member of a family that is in conflict or is experiencing problems with a homeless youth may request family reconciliation services from the county department. Such services may be provided to alleviate personal or family situations that present a serious and imminent threat to the health, safety, or welfare of the youth or family and to maintain intact families wherever possible. Services shall be provided at the discretion of the county department, within the county department's available resources.

(3) Family reconciliation services that may be...