(1) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:
The public health system reduces health care costs by preventing disease and injury,promoting healthy behavior, and reducing the incidents of chronic diseases and conditions. Thus, the public health system is a critical part of any health care reform.
Each community in Colorado should provide high-quality public health services regardless of its location. Thus, the state of Colorado and each local public health agency should have a comprehensive public health plan outlining how quality public health services will be provided.
Each county should establish or be part of a local public health agency organizedunder a local board of health with a public health director and other staff necessary to provide public health services;
A strong public health infrastructure is needed to provide essential public health services and is a shared responsibility among state and local public health agencies and their partners within the public health system; and
Developing a strong public health infrastructure requires the coordinated efforts ofstate and local public health agencies and their public and private sector partners within the public health system to:
Identify and provide leadership for the provision of essential public health services;
Develop and support an information infrastructure that supports essential public health services and functions;
Develop and provide effective education and training for members of the publichealth workforce;
Develop performance-management standards for the public health system that aretied to improvements in public health outcomes or other measures; and
Develop a comprehensive plan and set priorities for providing essential public healthservices.
Source: L. 2008: Entire part R&RE, p. 2030, § 1, effective July 1.