SB 159

Abstract

Public institutions of higher education; debt collection; transcripts and degrees. Prohibits public institutions of higher education from (i) refusing to provide a transcript or degree for a current or former student on the grounds that the student owes a debt; (ii) conditioning the provision of a transcript or degree for a current or former student on the payment of a debt, other than a fee charged to provide the transcript or degree; (iii) charging a higher fee to a current or former student for obtaining a transcript or degree, or providing less favorable treatment of a transcript or degree request because a current or former student owes a debt; or (iv) using transcript or degree issuance as a tool for debt collection.

Public institutions of higher education; debtcollection; transcripts and diplomas. Prohibits public institutionsof higher education from (i) refusing to provide a transcript ordiploma for a current or former student on the grounds that the studentowes a debt; (ii) conditioning the provision of a transcript or diplomafor a current or former student on the payment of a debt, other thana fee charged to provide the transcript or diploma; (iii) charginga higher fee to a current or former student for obtaining a transcript or diploma, or providing less favorable treatment of a transcriptor diploma request because a current or former student owes a debt;or (iv) using transcript or diploma issuance as a tool for debt collection.The bill states that any violation of these provisions constitutesa prohibited practice and is subject to any and all of the enforcementprovisions of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act.