IL SB0049

Institutions of higher education must provide official transcripts to students who request them for job applications, transfers, financial aid applications, military service, or other postsecondary opportunities, even if the student owes a debt.

Institutions cannot condition transcript provision to employers on debt payment (except standard transcript fees) and cannot charge higher fees or provide less favorable treatment based on outstanding student debt.

Beginning with the 2023-2024 academic year, each institution must adopt a written policy outlining how students can obtain withheld transcripts or diplomas, including verification processes for exemptions and thresholds for when debt triggers holds or third-party collection referral.

Institutions must post their debt policies and complaint procedures for the Attorney General's student loan ombudsperson on their websites and provide this information to students with cost of attendance disclosures.

Institutions must report annually by July 1 (starting 2024) to the Board of Higher Education or Illinois Community College Board regarding their transcript/diploma hold policies and the number of students with withheld transcripts, diplomas, or registration privileges.