Bill Text: IL SB0049 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Engrossed

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

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Bill Title: Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes. Removes the provisions concerning definitions. Makes changes concerning the specified conditions in which an institution of higher education must provide an official transcript of a current or former student to require the institution to provide the transcript even if the current or former student owes a debt if the student requests the official transcript to complete a job application; transfer from one institution of higher education to another; apply for State, federal, or institutional financial aid; join the United States Armed Forces or Illinois National Guard; or pursue other postsecondary opportunities. Provides that reporting shall be made to either the Board of Higher Education or the Illinois Community College Board, whichever is appropriate (instead of reporting to the Board of Higher Education). Removes the provisions concerning complaints. Makes a typographical correction. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-06-09 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 103-0054 [SB0049 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SB0049-Engrossed.html

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SB0049 Engrossed LRB103 04912 RJT 49922 b
AN ACT concerning education.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Student Debt Assistance Act is amended by
changing Section 15 and by adding Sections 30 and 35 as
follows:
(110 ILCS 66/15)
Sec. 15. Withholding of official transcripts.
(a) An institution of higher education:
(1) must provide an official transcript of a current
or former student to a current or potential employer, even
if the current or former student owes a debt if the student
requests the official transcript to: ;
(A) complete a job application;
(B) transfer from one institution of higher
education to another;
(C) apply for State, federal, or institutional
financial aid;
(D) join the United States Armed Forces or
Illinois National Guard; or
(E) pursue other postsecondary opportunities;
(2) may not condition the provision of an official
transcript to a current or potential employer on the

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payment of a debt, other than a fee charged to provide the
transcript; and
(3) may not charge a higher fee for providing
transferring an official transcript to a current or
potential employer or provide less favorable treatment for
such a request because a current or former student owes a
debt.
(b) Nothing in this Section prohibits an institution of
higher education from adopting a more lenient policy on
providing an official transcript to a current or former
student who owes a debt.
(Source: P.A. 102-998, eff. 5-27-22.)
(110 ILCS 66/30 new)
Sec. 30. Past-due debt policy.
(a) Beginning with the 2023-2024 academic year, each
institution of higher education shall adopt a policy that
outlines the process by which a current or former student may
obtain a transcript or diploma that has been withheld from the
student because the student owes a debt. At a minimum, the
policy must include:
(1) a reasonable process for the verification of
conditions a current or former student may demonstrate to
receive an exemption pursuant to Section 15 of this Act;
and
(2) identification of the point at which a student may

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be subject to a transcript, diploma, or registration hold,
including the time frames and amounts for which the holds
are to be used and the lowest amount of debt at which the
institution will assign debt to a third-party collection
agency.
(b) The institution of higher education shall post the
policy described in subsection (a) of this Section and the
procedures for filing a complaint with the Attorney General's
student loan ombudsperson and an administrator of the
institution of higher education on the institution of higher
education's website and shall provide the policy and the
procedures to students as part of the information the
institution of higher education shares relating to the cost of
attendance that includes any additional fees, financial aid,
scholarships, or other information.
(c) The institution of higher education does not need to
institute a new policy under this amendatory Act of the 103rd
General Assembly if the institution's current policy meets the
minimum requirements of this Section.
(110 ILCS 66/35 new)
Sec. 35. Reporting. On or before July 1, 2024 and on or
before each July 1 thereafter, each institution of higher
education shall report to either the Board of Higher Education
or the Illinois Community College Board, whichever is
appropriate, information regarding financial-based transcript

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and registration holds, which must include:
(1) reporting the institution of higher education's
policy developed pursuant to Section 30 of this Act; and
(2) reporting the number of students for whom the
institution of higher education has withheld official
transcripts, diplomas, or registration privileges, using
data from the previous academic year.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.