Code of Colorado Regulations
1000 - Department of Public Health and Environment
1010 - Division of Environmental Health and Sustainability
6 CCR 1010-7 - RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE HEALTH AND SANITATION OF CHILD CARE FACILITIES IN THE STATE OF COLORADO
Section 6 CCR 1010-7.4 - Definitions
Universal Citation: 6 CO Code Regs 1010-7 § 4
Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 6, March 25, 2025
A. The following definitions shall apply in the interpretations and the enforcement of these regulations unless the context clearly states otherwise:
1.
Approved means acceptable to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment or its authorized agents or employees based upon determination of conformance with these and other appropriate standards and good public health practice.
2.
Asbestos Containing Material means material containing more than 1% asbestos. Building materials of any age may contain asbestos.
3.
Bacteria means organisms with a cell wall that can survive inside and outside of the body.
4.
Child Care Facility means, for the purposes of this regulation, any facility defined as such in Sections 26-6-903 (8)(a)(I), (13), (29), (31), (32), (34), C.R.S, and 26.5-5-303 (3), (5), (10), (22), C.R.S., and,
a. "Child care center" means a facility, by whatever name known, that is maintained for the whole or part of a day for the care of five or more children, unless otherwise specified in this subsection (a), who are 18 years of age or younger and who are not related to the owner, operator, or manager thereof, whether the facility is operated with or without compensation for such care and with or without stated educational purposes. This term includes, but is not limited to, facilities commonly known as child care centers, school-age child care centers, before and after school programs, nursery schools, kindergartens, preschools, day camps, and summer camps, and includes those facilities for children under the age of six years with stated educational purposes operated in conjunction with a public, private, or parochial college or a private or parochial school; except that the term shall not apply to any kindergarten maintained in connection with a public, private, or parochial elementary school system of at least six grades.
b. "Children's resident camp" means a facility operating for three or more consecutive 24-hour days during one or more seasons of the year that offers group living experiences or seasonal outdoor adventure day camp programs for five or more children. The purpose of the facility is to offer an outdoor experience for youth development through multiple educational and recreational activities in an outdoor, nature-based environment. The recreational experiences may occur at the permanent camp premises or on trips off the premises.
c. "Day treatment center" means a facility that provides less than 24-hour care for groups of five or more children who are:
(1) Three years of age or older, but less than 21 years of age; and,
(2) Provides a structured program of various types of psycho-social and behavioral treatment to prevent or reduce the need for placement of the child out of the home or community.
d. "Guest child care facility" means a facility operated by a ski area, as that term is defined in Section 33-44-103(6), C.R.S., where children are cared for:
(1) While parents or persons in charge of such child are patronizing the ski area;
(2) Fewer than 10 total hours per day;
(3) Fewer than 10 consecutive days per year; and,
(4) Fewer than 45 days in a calendar year, with 30 or fewer of such 45 days occurring in either the winter or summer months.
e. "Homeless youth shelter" means a facility that, in addition to other services it may provide, provides services and mass temporary shelter for a period of three days or more to youths who are at least 11 years of age, or older, and who otherwise are homeless youth as that term is defined in Section 26-5.7-102(2), C.R.S.
f.
"Mobile Outdoor Preschool" means a program with a mobile classroom that uses no permanent building on a regular basis, for children three to seven years of age, with no more than eight children at any given time. Each classroom period must not exceed five hours.
g. "Public services short-term child care facility" means a facility that is operated by or for a county department of social services or a court and that provides care for a child:
(1) While the child's parent or the person in charge of the child is conducting business with the county department of social services or participating in court proceedings;
(2) Fewer than 10 total hours per day;
(3) Fewer than 15 consecutive days per year; and,
(4) Fewer than 45 days in a calendar year.
h. "Residential child care facility" means a facility licensed by the Colorado Department of Human Services to provide 24-hour group care and treatment for five or more children operated under private, public, or nonprofit sponsorship. "Residential child care facility" includes community-based residential child care facilities; qualified residential treatment programs, as defined in section 26-5.4-102 (2); shelter facilities; and psychiatric residential treatment facilities as defined in 25.5-4-103 (19.5).
i.
"Respite Child Care Center" means a facility for the purpose of providing temporary 24-hour group care for three or more children or youth who are placed in certified foster care homes or approved noncertified kinship care homes, and children or youth with open cases through a regional accountable entity. A respite child care center is not a treatment facility, but rather its primary purpose is providing recreational activities, peer engagement, and skill development to the children and youth in its care. A respite child care center serves children and youth from five years of age to 21 years of age. A respite child care center may offer care for only part of the day. Respite child care means an alternative form of care to enable caregivers to be temporarily relieved of caregiving duties.
j. "Secure residential treatment center" means a facility operated under private ownership that is licensed by the Colorado Department of Human Services to provide twenty-four-hour group care and treatment in a secure setting for five or more children or persons up to the age of 21 years over whom the juvenile court retains jurisdiction pursuant to Section 19-2.5-103 (6), C.R.S., who are committed by a court pursuant to an adjudication of delinquency or pursuant to a determination of guilt of a delinquent act or having been convicted as an adult and sentenced for an act that would be a crime if committed in Colorado, or in the committing jurisdiction, to be placed in a secure facility.
k. "Specialized group facility" means a facility sponsored and supervised by a county department or a licensed child placement agency for the purpose of providing 24-hour care for three or more children, but fewer than 12 children, whose special needs can best be met through the medium of a small group. A child who is admitted to a specialized group facility must be:
(1) At least seven years of age or older but less than 18 years of age; or,
(2) Less than 21 years of age and who are placed by court order or voluntary placement; or
(3) Accompanied by a parent or legal guardian if less than seven years of age.
5.
Child Care Health Consultant means a medical professional who assists the program in meeting and exceeding basic health and safety standards. A child care health consultant must meet one of the following qualifications: a Licensed Registered Nurse with knowledge and experience in maternal and child health; a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner; a Family Nurse Practitioner; or, a Physician with knowledge and experience in pediatrics or maternal and child health.
6.
Child Occupied Facility means a building or portion of a building that:
a. Was constructed prior to 1978;
b. Is visited regularly by the same child who is under seven years of age;
c. Is visited by the same child on two or more days within any week, with each such visit totaling three or more hours; and
d. Is visited by the same child a total of at least 60 hours in one year.
e. A child occupied facility includes, but is not limited to, day-care centers, preschools, or kindergarten classrooms constructed prior to 1978.
7.
Clean means to be free of dust and debris or to remove dirt and debris by vacuuming or scrubbing and washing with soap and water.
8.
Common Towel means a non-disposable towel that is used by more than one individual or is used more than one time by the same individual.
9.
Communicable Disease means a disease caused by a microorganism (bacterium, virus, fungus, or parasite) that can be transmitted from person to person via an infected body fluid or respiratory spray, with or without an intermediary agent (e.g., louse, mosquito) or environmental object (e.g., table surface).
10.
Contamination means the presence of infectious microorganisms or chemicals at levels toxic to human health in or on the body, environmental surfaces, articles of clothing, and/or in food or water.
11.
Critical Violation means any violation of the provisions of these regulations which is more likely than other violations to contribute to illness.
12.
Department means Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment or its authorized agents or employees.
13.
Disinfect means to eliminate most or all pathogenic microorganisms, with the exception of bacterial spores by using effective bactericidal heat or concentration of chemicals which are registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This is generally accomplished in a child care setting by the use of liquid chemical solutions such as a mixture of bleach (a solution containing sodium hypochlorite) and water.
14.
Drinking Water means water that meets criteria as specified in 5 CCR 1002-11, Colorado Primary Drinking Water Regulations. Drinking water is traditionally known as "potable water". Drinking water includes the term "water" except where the term used connotes that the water is not potable, such as "boiler water," "mop water," "rainwater," "reclaimed water," "wastewater," and "nondrinking water".
15.
Easily Cleanable means materials or surfaces that are smooth, durable, non-absorbent, such that the soil, filth, and/or unseen contamination can be effectively removed by normal cleaning methods.
16.
Extensive Remodeling means any remodeling that normally would require a building permit from local government or that affects the building or area of operation of the child care facility, or a change in operation that requires a license change by the Department Of Human Services. Routine maintenance, repairs, cosmetic changes, or license changes that increase allowable capacity of the current license shall not be defined as extensive remodeling, unless a change in capacity requires an increase in the number of fixtures. Structural modifications required due to extensive remodeling shall pertain directly to the portions of the facility or building being remodeled.
17.
Food Preparation Sink means a sink designated for food preparation activities including preparing bottles, washing produce, thawing foods, and rapid cooling of foods. Food preparation sinks are not handwashing sinks unless a multi-use sink operational plan is approved by the Department.
18.
Furnishings means equipment such as high chairs, cribs, beds, crawling mats, chairs, sofas, eating tables, art/water/play tables, other equipment, desks, workstations, dressers, interior play areas (jungle gyms), and toy chests.
19.
Gloves means those that are non-porous, disposable, and single-use.
20.
High Hazard Body Fluid means urine, feces, vomitus, blood, and other body fluids with blood present.
21.
Highly Susceptible Population means persons who are more likely than other people in the general population to experience foodborne disease because they are immunocompromised, children under five years of age, or older adults; and they obtain food at a facility that provides services such as custodial care, health care, or assisted living, such as a child or adult day care center, kidney dialysis center, hospital or nursing home, or nutritional or socialization services such as a senior center.
22.
Hygiene means protective measures, including practices of cleanliness, taken by individuals to promote health and limit the spread of infectious diseases.
23.
Imminent Health Hazard means a significant threat or danger to health that is considered to exist when there is evidence sufficient to show that a product, practice, circumstance, or event creates a situation that requires immediate correction or cessation of operation to prevent illness or injury based on the nature, severity, and duration of the anticipated illness or injury.
24.
Infant means a child between birth and the age of 18 months and is cared for in an infant program.
25.
Infection means a condition caused by the multiplication of an infectious agent in the body.
26.
Infectious means capable of causing an infection.
27.
Infestation means the presence of unwanted pests such as insects, rodents, bats, birds, or parasites at levels considered to pose either an economic or health threat.
28.
Inspection means an evaluation by the Department of the child care facility during its normal hours of operation, with program staff in attendance, to determine conformance with these regulations.
29.
Kindergarten means a program for children the year before they enter the first grade.
30.
Lead-based Paint, as defined in Section 25-7-1102, C.R.S., means any paint containing more than six one-hundredths of one per cent by wet weight of lead metal, more than five-tenths of one percent by dry weight of lead metal, or more than one milligram per square centimeter of lead metal.
31.
Low Hazard Body Fluid means body fluids without blood such as saliva, nasal discharge, eye discharge, sweat, tears, and human milk.
32.
New Child Care Facility means a facility, which is newly constructed or an existing structure that is converted for use as a child care facility as defined in Section 7.4(A)(6) that begins operation after the effective date of these rules.
33.
Outbreak means an increase in disease symptoms or illness regardless of a clinical diagnosis or laboratory testing in staff/children at more than expected levels. As few as two individuals (children or staff) in the same group with similar symptoms may constitute an outbreak.
34.
Parasite means an organism that lives on or in another living organism (e.g., giardia, ticks, lice, and mites).
35.
Poisonous or Toxic Materials means substances capable of causing injury, illness or, death when ingested, inhaled or absorbed.
36.
Preschool means a child care program for five or more children between the ages of two and one half and seven years.
37.
Privy means a toilet without running water.
38.
Psittacine Birds, also called "Hookbills" because the upper beak is turned downward, means all birds commonly known as Parrots, Amazons, Mexican Double-Heads, African Greys, Cockatoos, Macaws, Parakeets, Lovebirds, Lories, Lorikeets, and other birds of the order Psittaciforme.
39.
Ready-To-Eat Food means food that is edible without further washing, cooking, or additional preparation and that is reasonably expected to be consumed in that form.
40.
Refuse means any garbage, trash, or other forms of solid waste.
41.
Sanitization means effective bactericidal treatment by a process that provides enough accumulative heat or concentration of chemicals, registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, for sufficient time to reduce the bacterial count, including pathogens, to a safe level.
42.
School-Age Child means a child five years of age and older, unless otherwise approved by the licensing agency, attending a program licensed for school age children.
43.
Single-Service Articles means tableware, carry-out utensils, and other items such as bags, containers, placemats, stirrers, straws, toothpicks, and wrappers designed and constructed for one-time, one-person use after which they are intended for discard.
44.
Staff Member or staff means any person working or volunteering to perform duties in a child care facility, including caregivers.
45.
Time/Temperature Control for Safety Food (TCS) (formally "potentially hazardous food") means a food that requires time/temperature control for safety (TCS) to limit pathogenic microorganism growth or toxin formation. Potentially hazardous foods (time/temperature control for safety food) includes a food of animal origin that is raw or heat-treated; a food of plant origin that is heat-treated or consists of raw seed sprouts, cut melons, cut leafy greens, cut tomatoes or mixtures of cut tomatoes that are not modified in a way so that they are unable to support pathogenic microorganism growth or toxin formation, or garlic-in-oil mixtures that are not modified in a way so that they are unable to support pathogenic microorganism growth or toxin formation.
46.
Toddler means a child between the ages of 12 months and 36 months and is cared for in a toddler program.
47.
Virus means a microscopic organism smaller than a bacterium that may cause disease. Viruses can grow or reproduce only in living cells.
48.
Wading Pool means any artificial pool of water equal to or less than 18 inches in depth and intended for wading purposes.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Colorado may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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