Senate approves bill to remove sterilization authority for people with disabilities after amendment

The Colorado Senate on March 10 approved House Bill 10-40 with an amendment clarifying that sterilization may not proceed in the absence of a person's informed consent.

Senator Cutter, speaking to the Health and Human Services report, described the legislation as correcting "a really old and outdated statute" that allowed state authority over sterilization of people with disabilities. An amendment (L007) was offered to change language to the "in the absence of a person's informed consent" standard; the chamber adopted L007 by voice vote.

After the amendment was adopted, Senator Cutter said the bill removes statutory language that previously allowed sterilization over a person's objection and urged support. The bill passed final reading and was recorded as adopted. Supporters described the measure as restoring agency and rights to members of the disability community; there were no recorded opposing votes on final passage in the transcript.