Denver, CO
Private Investigators in Colorado took two large steps forward in their goal of obtaining a Colorado license. On February 17, 2011 DORA, the Department of Regulatory Agencies, issued their 2011 Sunrise Review for Private Investigators with a recommendation to regulate private investigators and require either a surety bond or errors and omissions insurance and passage of a jurisprudence examination. DORA’s recommendation is believed to be the first time that the agency has issued a recommendation to regulate PIs. Past reviews by DORA have resulted in recommendations that private investigators and private detectives needed no regulation as there was not enough proof of public harm.
On February 22, 2011 Colorado House Bill 1195, concerning the voluntary licensure of private investigators, passed unanimously through the House Committee with a vote of 11-0. House Bill 1195 was introduced as the result of a licensing committee formed by the Professional Private Investigators Association of Colorado. House Judiciary Committee Chair Bob Gardner of Colorado Springs discussed the desire of PIs to enhance their professionalism and credentials through a private investigator license. Because of the voluntary nature of the bill, a private investigator without a license could continue operating in Colorado, but could not hold him/herself out to be a “licensed private investigator”. A portion of the CO licensing bill which granted access to public records in an unredacted form was struck out of the bill. The House Committee recommended the bill contain an amendment restricting individuals who have been convicted of unlawful sexual behavior, domestic violence, stalking, or a violation of a protection order as defined by Colorado Revised Statutes.
Colorado House Bill 1195 now moves to the House Finance Committee and one step closer to PIs being able to hold themselves out as a Colorado licensed private investigator.