# C.R.S. § 24-33.5-1601: 24-33.5-1601. Legislative declaration

> Colorado · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T24_A33.5_P16_S24-33.5-1601

## Section

- **Citation:** C.R.S. § 24-33.5-1601
- **Heading:** 24-33.5-1601. Legislative declaration
- **Jurisdiction:** Colorado
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** CO Code / Title 24 / Article 33.5 / Part 16 / Section 24-33.5-1601

## Text

24-33.5-1601. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:

(a) The threat of terrorism in Colorado is a matter of great concern to the people of the state and affects the public interest. Therefore, this part 16 is enacted for the purpose of protecting the health, peace, safety, and welfare of the people of this state.

(b) The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania, along with the subsequent sending of anthrax through the mail, the previous attempt to destroy the world trade center, and the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah federal building in Oklahoma City, and the arson attacks in Vail, Colorado, demonstrate that no part of the United States is immune from the threat of terrorism;

(c) Responsible public agencies must anticipate and protect against new forms of terrorism, including suicide hijacking, use of biological toxins and hazardous materials, arson, and sabotage of telecommunications networks, the food and water supply, and other critical infrastructure;

(d) In response to the threat of terrorism, the federal government and several state governments are creating specialized agencies to coordinate efforts to prevent, protect against, respond to, recover from, and prosecute acts of terrorism. Colorado currently has no such agency, and few of Colorado's criminal laws address terrorism specifically.

(e) In 2005, hurricane Katrina emphasized and reinforced the importance of robust emergency management systems and the need for an all-hazards approach to homeland security, increased autonomy, and responsibility for emergency management;

(f) Coordination across disciplines, among levels of government, and with private and nongovernmental sectors is the best way to ensure that government can deliver, to the best of its collective ability, the most effective and efficient services regardless of the cause of any disaster;

(g) A state agency should be established to coordinate Colorado's response to the threat of terrorism and other threats; facilitate tribal, state, local, and regional homeland security activities; direct homeland security-related federal funding to local governments; and share homeland security information among entities participating in homeland security activities.

## Nearby sections

- [C.R.S. § 24-33.5-1601 24-33.5-1601. Legislative declaration](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T24_A33.5_P16_S24-33.5-1601.md)
- [C.R.S. § 24-33.5-1602 24-33.5-1602. Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T24_A33.5_P16_S24-33.5-1602.md)
- [C.R.S. § 24-33.5-1603 24-33.5-1603. Division of homeland security and emergency management - creation - director](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T24_A33.5_P16_S24-33.5-1603.md)
- [C.R.S. § 24-33.5-1604 24-33.5-1604. Duties and powers of the division - rules](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T24_A33.5_P16_S24-33.5-1604.md)
- [C.R.S. § 24-33.5-1605 24-33.5-1605. Director - duties and powers - rules](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T24_A33.5_P16_S24-33.5-1605.md)
- [C.R.S. § 24-33.5-1606 24-33.5-1606. Office of prevention and security - creation - duties](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T24_A33.5_P16_S24-33.5-1606.md)
- [C.R.S. § 24-33.5-1606.5 24-33.5-1606.5. Office of preparedness - creation - duties - posting of notice of NIMS classes -](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T24_A33.5_P16_S24-33.5-1606.5.md)
- [C.R.S. § 24-33.5-1607 24-33.5-1607. Funding](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T24_A33.5_P16_S24-33.5-1607.md)
- [C.R.S. § 24-33.5-1608 24-33.5-1608. Building security and occupant protection](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T24_A33.5_P16_S24-33.5-1608.md)
- [C.R.S. § 24-33.5-1609 24-33.5-1609. Continuity of state government operations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T24_A33.5_P16_S24-33.5-1609.md)
- [C.R.S. § 24-33.5-1610 24-33.5-1610. Compliance with standards](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T24_A33.5_P16_S24-33.5-1610.md)
- [C.R.S. § 24-33.5-1611 24-33.5-1611. Assistance to state agencies - security assessment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T24_A33.5_P16_S24-33.5-1611.md)
- [C.R.S. § 24-33.5-1612 24-33.5-1612. Cooperation from other state agencies](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T24_A33.5_P16_S24-33.5-1612.md)
- [C.R.S. § 24-33.5-1613 24-33.5-1613. State facility security fund](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T24_A33.5_P16_S24-33.5-1613.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CO_T24_A33.5_P16_S24-33.5-1601. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.