Bill Text: IL SB0049 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Chaptered
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. Adds an immediate effective date.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-06-09 - Public Act . . . . . . . . . 103-0054 [SB0049 Detail]
Download: Illinois-2023-SB0049-Chaptered.html
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| Public Act 103-0054 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning education.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 5. The Student Debt Assistance Act is amended by | ||||
changing Section 15 and by adding Sections 30 and 35 as | ||||
follows:
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(110 ILCS 66/15)
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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 | ||||
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.
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(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.)
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(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
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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 | ||
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
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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,
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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.
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(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 | ||
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.
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law.
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