CA AB1974

Pupils and former pupils cannot owe or be billed for debt to public schools, school districts, county offices of education, charter schools, or state special schools, unless emancipated when the debt was incurred.

Schools are prohibited from taking negative actions against pupils due to debt, including denying grades or transcripts, withholding diplomas, restricting access to facilities, or limiting participation in extracurricular activities or educational events.

Schools must provide itemized invoices before pursuing payment and receipts for each payment made; invoices must reference school debt collection policies and pupil rights.

Debt collectors cannot report school debt owed by parents or guardians to credit reporting agencies, and schools cannot sell such debt.

Exceptions apply to debt from vandalism or unreturned/damaged school property, though homeless youth and foster youth are exempt from these exceptions and cannot be charged such debt.