Bill
Bill > S424
NJ S424
NJ S424Prohibits institutions of higher education and certain proprietary institutions from withholding transcript due to outstanding student account balance; establishes penalties for noncompliance.
summary
Introduced
01/09/2024
01/09/2024
In Committee
01/09/2024
01/09/2024
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/12/2026
01/12/2026
Introduced Session
2024-2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill prohibits institutions of higher education and proprietary institutions licensed to offer academic degrees from withholding a student's transcript due to an outstanding balance on the student's account and establishes penalties for noncompliance. 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 providing 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. The bill further provides that failure by an institution to provide a transcript within 10 business days of the student's request will subject the institution to a penalty of $500 per day for each day of noncompliance.
AI Summary
This bill prohibits colleges, universities, and other institutions licensed to grant academic degrees from withholding a student's official academic record, known as a transcript, simply because the student has an outstanding balance on their account, unless that balance is specifically for the fee charged to process the transcript itself. The bill defines "debt" as any money owed by a student, excluding the transcript processing fee, and "institution" as any higher education or proprietary degree-granting school. Furthermore, institutions are forbidden from charging higher fees or giving less favorable treatment for transcript requests from students who owe money, and they cannot use transcript issuance as a method to collect debts. If an institution fails to provide a transcript within 10 business days of a student's request, it will face a penalty of $500 for each day of noncompliance, to be collected through legal proceedings.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Higher Education Committee (on 01/09/2024)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/S424 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/S0500/424_I1.HTM |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2024/S0500/424_I1.HTM |
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