(1) The general assembly hereby declares that it is in the public interest to provide available, coordinated, and quality emergency medical and trauma services to the people of this state. It is the intent of the general assembly in enacting this article to establish an emergency medical and trauma services system, consisting of at least treatment, transportation, communication, and documentation subsystems, designed to prevent premature mortality and to reduce the morbidity that arises from critical injuries, exposure to poisonous substances, and illnesses.
To effect this end, the general assembly finds it necessary that the department ofpublic health and environment assist, when requested by local government entities, in planning and implementing any one of such subsystems so that it meets local and regional needs and requirements and that the department coordinate local systems so that they interface with an overall state system providing maximally effective emergency medical and trauma systems.
The general assembly further finds that the provision of adequate emergency medicaland trauma services on highways in all areas of the state is a matter of statewide concern and requires state financial assistance and support.
Source: L. 77: Entire article added, p. 1278, § 2, effective January 1, 1978. L. 83: (1) amended, p. 1055, § 2, effective July 1. L. 89: (3) added, p. 1148, § 1, effective July 1. L. 94: (2) amended, p. 2757, § 417, effective July 1. L. 2000: Entire section amended, p. 525, § 2, effective July 1.
Cross references: For the legislative declaration contained in the 1994 act amending subsection (2), see section 1 of chapter 345, Session Laws of Colorado 1994.