SB18-095 Summary

• Eliminates outdated statutory terminology including "illegitimate child," "legitimate child," and "out-of-wedlock" births throughout Colorado law, replacing with neutral language focused on marital status of parents.

• Changes do not alter the scope or applicability of affected statutes, only modernize language in sections covering workers' compensation, health insurance coverage, genetic testing, adoption, and vital statistics.

• Removes provisions stating "children born of a prohibited marriage are legitimate" and "children born of putative spouses are legitimate" as these distinctions become unnecessary.

• Updates terminology in vital statistics, adoption, and child support enforcement statutes to use neutral descriptors like "parents were not married at the time of birth" instead of "born out of wedlock."

• Takes effect August 8, 2018, subject to referendum petition; if challenged, requires voter approval at November 2018 general election to become effective.