Sterilization Rights of Person with Disabilities

Plain English: This amendment changes Colorado law to protect people with intellectual and developmental disabilities from being sterilized against their will, while also updating rules for organ donation.

• It states that a person with an intellectual or developmental disability cannot be sterilized unless they agree to it, except if staying pregnant would immediately threaten their life or health.
• If the person is not able to make this decision themselves, someone legally authorized can consent on their behalf following specific legal rules.
• Before any sterilization happens, two independent professionals who do not work with that person must check and confirm they understand what they are agreeing to.
• It updates organ donation laws so a person cannot have an organ removed without their permission or the permission of their parent or guardian if they are under 18.

• The amendment removes several older sections of law (25.5-10-232, 25.5-10-233, and 25.5-10-234) that previously handled court petitions for sterilization, but the text does not explain exactly how those specific old processes are replaced.
• The amendment uses technical legal terms like 'interdisciplinary team' without defining who must be on that team.

Plain English: This amendment clarifies that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities cannot be sterilized against their will, unless they lack decision-making capacity and face an immediate threat to their life or health.

• People with these disabilities who can make decisions for themselves are strictly protected from being sterilized without their consent.
• For people who cannot make medical decisions, sterilization is only allowed if there is an urgent danger to their life or health.
• Any decision to sterilize someone who lacks capacity must follow specific legal rules found in Article 14 of Title 15 or a court order.

• The amendment text does not explain the exact steps required by 'Article 14 of Title 15' mentioned for making decisions.
• It is unclear what specific laws apply if no state law exists, as it only mentions 'any other applicable law.'

Plain English: This amendment makes small formatting changes to the bill's text but does not clearly state what specific rules or requirements are being added, removed, or changed.

• Removes a section title that included 'definition' so it only says 'intent'.
• Fixes numbering errors in paragraph (2) by removing extra letters and parentheses.
• Changes the word 'PERSON AND' to 'WHERE' on page 3.

• The amendment text lists many lines that are deleted but does not show what new words replace them, making it impossible to explain the actual legal changes without seeing the full bill.
• Because large parts of the original text were removed and no replacement text is provided in this document, we cannot know if any rules about sterilization consent were changed.

Plain English: This amendment clarifies the definition of an 'imminent threat to life or health' for people with disabilities facing sterilization and fixes formatting errors in the bill text.

• Adds a new section that defines 'imminent threat to the life or health' as a condition causing real, immediate, or substantial risk of death or serious harm unless treated right away.
• Updates the list structure by adding sub-labels like '(a)' and correcting other numbering errors on pages 1 and 2.

• The amendment text only shows specific line edits and does not include the full context of the original bill, so it is unclear if there are other changes to sterilization rules beyond this definition.
• Some lines in the official text appear to be formatting corrections that do not change the actual meaning or law.

Plain English: This amendment sets a specific start date for the bill and allows voters to delay its effect if they sign a petition.

• The law will not take effect until August 12, 2026, unless it is put on hold by a voter petition.

Plain English: This amendment changes the law to say that sterilizing a person with an intellectual or developmental disability is only allowed if they give their informed consent, rather than just saying it cannot be done against their will.

• The bill now requires doctors and others to get clear permission from the person before performing sterilization.