Capitol ID Card Up Today For Second Reading In Colorado Senate

Posted: March 12, 2018

A bill that would allow heavy users of Colorado's Capitol complex to pay for a background check that would let them come and go in buildings more easily is on this morning's General Orders calendar in the Colorado Senate. 

SB18-116, Capitol Identification Card, is the third bill scheduled to be heard.

The Colorado Lobbyists Association says a survey it took of all lobbyists shows 91.3% support for the idea. It has promoted an awareness campaign, Capitol Clear, to bring attention to the idea, which would require prospective pass holders to submit to a fingerprint-based background check conducted by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. 

"Currently, no lobbyists or members of the public undergoes any background check to enter Colorado's Capitol, so this alternative is safer than today's system without background checks," the association says on its website. 

SB18-116, as drafted, also gives the Colorado State Patrol the authority to deny a Capitol ID Card even in instances where a background check comes back clean. This way, persons accused of threatening or harassing behavior would be mandated to go through Capitol metal detectors anyway. 

The bill handily passed the Senate Finance Committee but squeaked through Senate Appropriations Committee on a 4-3 party-line vote, with all Republicans voting yes and all Democrats voting no. At the committee hearing, neither side publicly voiced their reasons for support or for non-support.