2023 -- S 0766 | |
======== | |
LC002268 | |
======== | |
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023 | |
____________ | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO EDUCATION – COUNCIL ON POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION | |
| |
Introduced By: Senators Cano, Acosta, Britto, DiPalma, Mack, Burke, Murray, Pearson, | |
Date Introduced: March 23, 2023 | |
Referred To: Senate Education | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Chapter 16-59 of the General Laws entitled "Council on Postsecondary |
2 | Education [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby |
3 | amended by adding thereto the following section: |
4 | 16-59-29. Student access to academic transcripts. |
5 | (a) Institutions of higher education shall not withhold a student’s academic transcripts |
6 | solely due to that student’s failure to pay any loan payments, fines, fees, tuition, or other expenses |
7 | owed to the institution, except that a student’s academic credits and grades may be withheld for |
8 | any course for which that student’s tuition and mandatory course fees are not paid in full. For |
9 | students paying on a per-semester basis, such an institution may withhold a student’s academic |
10 | credits or grades for any course taken in a semester for which that student’s tuition and mandatory |
11 | course fees have not been paid. |
12 | (b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent an institution of higher education |
13 | from withholding a student’s diploma or degree due to that student’s failure to pay any loan |
14 | payments, fines, fees, tuition, or other expenses owed to the institution. |
15 | (c) The council shall promulgate rules and regulations consistent with this section. |
16 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
======== | |
LC002268 | |
======== | |
| |
EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO EDUCATION – COUNCIL ON POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION | |
*** | |
1 | This act would prohibit colleges and universities from withholding a student’s transcript |
2 | due to the student failing to pay any expenses owed to the college or university. The college or |
3 | university may withhold a student’s academic credits and grades as well as diploma or degree for |
4 | failure to pay. |
5 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
======== | |
LC002268 | |
======== | |
| LC002268 - Page 2 of 2 |