On Wednesday, April 6th, 2011, the Colorado House Appropriations Committee convened at the Capitol in Denver, Colorado and passed HB11-1195, the Colorado Private Investigator Licensing bill with a vote of 12-1. The PI license bill has now passed through the House Judiciary Committee with a vote of 11-0, the House Finance Committee with a vote of 8-5, and the House Appropriations Committee with a vote of 12-1. The next step for HB1195 is the House floor where it will be voted on by the Colorado House of Representatives.
Colorado has not had licensing in the state since 1977. Several attempts at licensing have been introduced by the Professional Private Investigators Association of Colorado in the past, only to have those attempts die. The Professional Private Investigators Association of Colorado finally believes it has a winning formula in the form of a bill which has bi-partisan sponsorship. HB1195 is sponsored by Bob Gardner (R) in the House as well as by Su Ryden (D) in the House. In the Senate, HB1195 is sponsored by Linda Newell (D). By laying the foundation of bi-partisan sponsorship as well as riding on the momentum and experience created by the defeat of Colorado HB10-1012 (also known as the Colorado anti-surveillance bill) PPIAC has gained unprecedented ground in the goal of having its professional minded investigators be able to hold the title of Colorado Licensed Private Investigator.