bill bars colleges from holding transcripts over small debts

The text as introduced · 489 words

89R10353 RDR-F

By: Bucy
H.B. No. 2490

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to student access to certain academic records held by a

public institution of higher education or career school or college;

authorizing fees.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 51.9716 to read as follows:

Sec. 51.9716. STUDENT TRANSCRIPTS AND DIPLOMAS. (a) In

this section:

(1) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning

assigned by Section 61.003.

(2) "Student" includes a former student.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, an

institution of higher education may not withhold a student's

transcript or diploma on the basis that the student has not

fulfilled the student's financial obligation to the institution if

the student's outstanding financial obligation to the institution:

(1) is less than $500; or

(2) has been outstanding for more than five years.

(c) An institution of higher education may require a student

with an outstanding financial obligation to the institution of $500

or more to enter into a repayment plan with the institution before

releasing the student's transcript or diploma to the student. The

institution must release the transcript or diploma to the student

on the student's initiation of payment under the repayment plan.

(d) An institution of higher education may charge a student

a fee in connection with the release of a transcript or diploma.

The amount of the fee may not exceed the cost of materials used to

print, mail, or electronically send the transcript or diploma.

SECTION 2. Section 132.062, Education Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 132.062. STUDENT [ WITHHOLDING ] RECORDS. (a) A career

school or college may not withhold a student's transcript or

certificate of completion of training on the basis that [ until ] the

student has not fulfilled the student's financial obligation to the

school or college if the student's outstanding financial obligation

to the school or college:

(1) is less than $500; or

(2) has been outstanding for more than five years .

(b) A career school or college may require a student with an

outstanding financial obligation to the school or college of $500

or more to enter into a repayment plan with the school or college

before releasing the student's transcript or certificate of

completion of training to the student. The career school or college

must release the transcript or certificate to the student on the

student's initiation of payment under the repayment plan.

(c) A career school or college may charge a student a fee in

connection with the release of a transcript or certificate of

completion of training. The amount of the fee may not exceed the

cost of materials used to print, mail, or electronically send the

transcript or certificate.

(d) For purposes of this section, "student" includes a

former student.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.