Colorado § 18-6-401.1 - Child abuse - limitation for commencing proceedings - evidence - statutory privilege.
Full text of Colorado Colorado Revised Statutes § 18-6-401.1 — Child abuse - limitation for commencing proceedings - evidence - statutory privilege., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 18-6-401.1. Child abuse - limitation for commencing proceedings - evidence - statutory privilege.
(1) For the purposes of this section, "child abuse" means child abuse as defined in section 18-6-401 (1).
(2) No person shall be prosecuted, tried, or punished for an act of child abuse other than the misdemeanor offenses specified in section 18-6-401 (7)(a)(V), (7)(a)(VI), and (7)(b), unless the indictment, information, complaint, or action for the same is found or instituted within ten years after commission of the offense. No person shall be prosecuted, tried, or punished for the misdemeanor offenses specified in section 18-6-401 (7)(a)(V), (7)(a)(VI), and (7)(b), unless the indictment, information, complaint, or action for the same is found or instituted within five years after the commission of the offense.
(3) An out-of-court statement made by a child, as "child" is defined under the statutes that are the subject of the action, describing any act of child abuse to which the child declarant was subjected or that the child declarant witnessed, and that is not otherwise admissible by a statute or court rule that provides an exception to the hearsay objection, may be admissible pursuant to section 13-25-129 (3).
(4) All cases involving the commission of an act of child abuse shall take precedence before the court; the court shall hear these cases as soon as possible after they are filed.
(5) The statutory privilege between the victim-patient and his physician and between the husband and the wife shall not be available for excluding or refusing testimony in any prosecution of an act of child abuse.
Source: L. 85: Entire section added, p. 673, § 3, effective June 7. L. 2019: (3) amended, (SB 19-071), ch. 42, p. 146, § 3, effective July 1.
Cross references: For provisions concerning sex offenses against children that are similar to the provisions of this section, see § 18-3-411; for the physician-patient and husband-wife privileges, see § 13-90-107.
Source: official Colorado text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About Colorado § 18-6-401.1
What does Colorado Revised Statutes § 18-6-401.1 cover?
Section 18-6-401.1 ("Child abuse - limitation for commencing proceedings - evidence - statutory privilege.") is part of the Colorado Revised Statutes, the codified statutory law of Colorado. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Colorado § 18-6-401.1?
A common citation format is "Colorado Revised Statutes § 18-6-401.1" (Colorado). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Colorado law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Colorado official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Colorado attorney.
How does Colorado § 18-6-401.1 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Colorado can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Colorado.