Capitol Identification Card

On and after January 1, 2019, the bill authorizes security personnel at the state capitol building, including the Colorado state patrol (CSP), to allow any member of the public who holds a capitol identification card (card) to enter the capitol building, the state services building, or the legislative services building without submitting to a search of his or her person or property by security personnel, electronic weapons screening devices, or other means.

The secretary of the senate (secretary) or the chief clerk of the house of representatives (chief clerk) may issue a card to any member of the public who applies for the same, pays a fee, and completes a fingerprint-based criminal history record check. Each card is issued for a 2-year period. The bill sets the initial amount of the fee at $100. The amount of the fee must be set at a level that includes the actual costs incurred by the Colorado bureau of investigation (CBI) in completing the fingerprint-based criminal history record check.

The legislative council of the general assembly may adjust the amount of the fee not to exceed $500 for any 2-year period for which the card is issued.

As part of the application submitted by an individual for a card, the individual is required to have his or her fingerprints taken by a local law enforcement agency or any third party approved by the CBI for the purpose of obtaining a fingerprint-based criminal history record check. The costs of completing the check are paid by the applicant. The bill specifies how the record check is completed. The bill requires the CBI to forward the results of the criminal history record check to the secretary and the chief clerk. The issuance of a card is conditional upon a satisfactory criminal history record check that demonstrates the applicant has not been convicted of a felony. An applicant who fails his or her criminal history record check is not entitled to a refund of any money the applicant has paid to complete the record check.

The card must list the name of the card holder and show a photograph of the card holder's face. The record check must be conducted each year for which a card has been issued. The applicant is responsible for payment covering the costs of the record check for each year in which the record check is conducted.

A card expires on the second anniversary of its date of issuance unless it has been renewed. The bill specifies procedures by which the card may be renewed and imposes additional restrictions governing issuance, use, and cancellation of the card.

All fees collected from issuance of the card are credited to the capitol identification card account, which is created within the existing legislative department cash fund.

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)