Bill Text: NJ S1115 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Establishes limits on transcript release restrictions at institutions of higher education and certain proprietary institutions.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-12-14 - Reported from Senate Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading [S1115 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2022-S1115-Introduced.html

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SENATE, No. 1115

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

220th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED JANUARY 31, 2022

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  SANDRA B. CUNNINGHAM

District 31 (Hudson)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Prohibits institutions of higher education and certain proprietary institutions from withholding transcript due to outstanding balance on student's account.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  

An Act concerning the withholding of student transcripts by institutions of higher education and certain proprietary institutions and supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    As used in this act:

     "Debt" means any money, obligation, claim, or sum, due or owing, or alleged to be due or owing, from a current or former student, but does not include the fee, if any, charged to all students for the actual costs of providing the transcripts; and

     "Institution" means an institution of higher education or proprietary institution licensed to offer academic degrees.

 

     2.    An institution shall not, due to an outstanding balance on a current or former student's account: 

     a.     refuse to provide a transcript for a current or former student on the grounds that the student owes a debt;

     b.    condition the provision of a transcript on the payment of a debt, other than a fee charged to provide the transcript;

     c.     charge a higher fee for obtaining a transcript, or provide less favorable treatment of a transcript request because a current or former student owes a debt; or

     d.    use transcript issuance as a tool for debt collection.

 

     3.    This act shall take effect immediately. 

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill prohibits institutions of higher education and certain proprietary institutions from withholding a student's transcript due to an outstanding balance on the student's account.

     This bill prohibits an institution, due to an outstanding balance on a current or former student's account, from: 

·        refusing to provide a transcript for a current or former student on the grounds that the student owes a debt;

·        conditioning the provision of a transcript on the payment of a debt, other than a fee charged to provide the transcript;

·        charging a higher fee for obtaining a transcript, or provide less favorable treatment of a transcript request because a current or former student owes a debt; or

·        using transcript issuance as a tool for debt collection.