(1) The general assembly finds and declares that it is the purpose of this part 4 to provide services for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities that would foster the following goals:
To maintain eligible persons in the most appropriate settings possible and to minimize admissions to institutions;
To recognize the unique services requirements of persons with developmental disabilities;
To provide optimum accessibility to various important social, habilitative, remedial,residential, and health services that are available to assist in maintaining eligible persons in the least restrictive settings;
To provide eligible persons who have the capacity to remain outside an institutionalsetting access to appropriate social, habilitative, remedial, residential, and health services, without which institutionalization would be necessary;
To provide the most efficient and effective use of funds in the delivery of thesesocial, habilitative, remedial, residential, and health services to eligible persons;
To coordinate, integrate, and link these social, habilitative, remedial, residential, andhealth services into existing community-based service delivery systems for persons with developmental disabilities, to avoid unnecessary and expensive duplication of services;
To allow the state substantial flexibility in organizing and administering the deliveryof social, habilitative, remedial, residential, and health services to eligible citizens.
The general assembly intends that the state department and the department of humanservices shall cooperate to the maximum extent possible in designing, implementing, and administering the programs authorized under this part 4.
Nothing in this part 4 shall be construed to disqualify persons from receiving anybenefits to which they would otherwise be eligible under parts 1 and 2 of article 5 of this title, or under Title XIX of the federal "Social Security Act", as amended, by reason of being designated as a person with developmental disabilities.
The general assembly further finds and declares that:
Prader-Willi syndrome is a genetic condition that occurs in approximately one infifteen to twenty-five thousand people worldwide, and there are up to three hundred seventy-five individuals living with this syndrome in Colorado;
Because Prader-Willi syndrome is a genetic disorder, individuals either have it orthey do not. Further, because there is not currently a cure, individuals who have Prader-Willi syndrome will have it for life.
This disorder affects members of every culture, religion, economic class, race, andsocial order;
The most critical hallmark of Prader-Willi syndrome is overeating. Individuals withPrader-Willi syndrome cannot tell when they are full and will continue to eat without stop, leading to ruptured stomachs and even death. Other symptoms include significant developmental and cognitive delays, skin picking, sleep problems, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, hypothyroidism, hypogonadism, and low muscle tone.
The state of Colorado does not currently recognize Prader-Willi syndrome as an intellectual and developmental disability.
Source: L. 2006: Entire article added with relocations, p. 1942, § 7, effective July 1. L. 2018: IP(1) amended and (4) added, (SB 18-074), ch. 98, p. 769, § 1, effective August 8.
Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 26-4-622 as it existed prior to 2006.