2024 -- S 2289

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LC004756

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION – COUNCIL ON POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

     

     Introduced By: Senators Cano, Acosta, Mack, Valverde, and DiPalma

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 16-59 of the General Laws entitled "Council on Postsecondary

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Education [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     16-59-29. Student access to academic transcripts.

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     (a) Institutions of higher education shall not withhold a student’s academic transcripts

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solely due to that student’s failure to pay any loan payments, fines, fees, tuition, or other expenses

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owed to the institution, except that a student’s academic credits and grades may be withheld for

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any course for which that student’s tuition and mandatory course fees are not paid in full. For

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students paying on a per-semester basis, such an institution may withhold a student’s academic

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credits or grades for any course taken in a semester for which that student’s tuition and mandatory

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course fees have not been paid.

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     (b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent an institution of higher education

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from withholding a student’s diploma or degree due to that student’s failure to pay any loan

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payments, fines, fees, tuition, or other expenses owed to the institution.

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     (c) The council shall promulgate rules and regulations consistent with this section.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC004756

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION – COUNCIL ON POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

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     This act would prohibit colleges and universities from withholding a student’s transcript

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due to the student failing to pay any expenses owed to the college or university. The college or

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university may withhold a student’s academic credits and grades as well as diploma or degree for

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failure to pay.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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