Colorado § 26-1-105 - Department of human services created - executive director - powers, duties, and functions.

§ 26-1-105. Department of human services created - executive director - powers, duties, and functions.

(1) Effective July 1, 1994, there is hereby created a department of human services, the head of which shall be the executive director of the department of human services, which office is hereby created. The executive director shall be appointed by the governor, with the consent of the senate, and shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. The reappointment of an executive director after an initial election of a governor shall be subject to the provisions of section 24-20-109, C.R.S. The executive director has those powers, duties, and functions prescribed for the heads of principal departments in the "Administrative Organization Act of 1968", article 1 of title 24, C.R.S.

(1.5) The department of human services shall consist of a state board of human services, an executive director of the department of human services, and such divisions, sections, and other units as may be established by the executive director pursuant to the provisions of subsection (2) of this section.

(2) (a) The executive director may establish such divisions, sections, and other units within the state department as are necessary for the proper and efficient discharge of the powers, duties, and functions of the state department. The executive director may allocate the powers, duties, and functions previously assigned to statutorily created divisions or sections of the state department of social services and the department of institutions to the divisions, sections, and other units established pursuant to this subsection (2). The executive director is authorized to create, eliminate, or alter such sections and units within the state department as the executive director determines are necessary to effectively and efficiently operate consistent with the plan for restructuring health and human services, as set forth in article 1.7 of title 24, C.R.S.

(b) (Deleted by amendment, L. 93, p. 1105, § 20, effective July 1, 1994.)

(3) The department of human services shall be responsible for the administration of human services programs as set forth in part 2 of this article.

(4) On and after January 1, 2014, the department of human services shall implement a program to generate awareness among:

(a) The residents of the state regarding the mistreatment, self-neglect, and exploitation of at-risk adults;

(b) The persons identified in section 26-3.1-102 (1)(b) who are urged to report the mistreatment, self-neglect, or exploitation of an at-risk adult; and

(c) The persons identified in section 18-6.5-108, C.R.S., who are required to report the abuse or exploitation of an at-risk elder.

Source: L. 73: R&RE, p. 1161, § 1. C.R.S. 1963: § 119-1-4. L. 93: Entire section amended, p. 1105, § 20, effective July 1, 1994. L. 2013: (4) added, (SB 13-111), ch. 233, p. 1126, § 10, effective May 16.

Cross references: For the legislative declaration contained in the 1993 act amending this section, see section 1 of chapter 230, Session Laws of Colorado 1993. For the legislative declaration in the 2013 act adding subsection (4), see section 1 of chapter 233, Session Laws of Colorado 2013.