HB2490 - Relating to student access to certain academic records held by a public institution of higher education or career school or college; authorizing fees.

  89R10353 RDR-F     By: Bucy H.B. No. 2490       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to student access to certain academic records held by a   public institution of higher education or career school or college;   authorizing fees.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 51.9716 to read as follows:           Sec.   51.9716.     STUDENT TRANSCRIPTS AND DIPLOMAS. (a)     In   this section:                 (1)     "Institution of higher education"   has the meaning   assigned by Section 61.003.                 (2)  "Student" includes a former student.           (b)     Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, an   institution of higher education may not withhold a student's   transcript or diploma on the basis that the student has not   fulfilled the student's financial obligation to the institution if   the student's outstanding financial obligation to the institution:                 (1)  is less than $500; or                 (2)  has been outstanding for more than five years.           (c)     An institution of higher education may require a student   with an outstanding financial obligation to the institution of $500   or more to enter into a repayment plan with the institution before   releasing the student's transcript or diploma to the student. The   institution must release the transcript or diploma to the student   on the student's initiation of payment under the repayment plan.           (d)     An institution of higher education may charge a student   a fee in connection with the release of a transcript or diploma.     The amount of the fee may not exceed the cost of materials used to   print, mail, or electronically send the transcript or diploma.          SECTION 2.  Section 132.062, Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 132.062.   STUDENT [ WITHHOLDING ] RECORDS.   (a)   A career   school or college may not withhold a student's transcript or   certificate of completion of training on the basis that [ until ] the   student has not fulfilled the student's financial obligation to the   school or college if the student's outstanding financial obligation   to the school or college:                 (1)  is less than $500; or                 (2)  has been outstanding for more than five years .           (b)     A career school or college may require a student with an   outstanding financial obligation to the school or college of $500   or more to enter into a repayment plan with the school or college   before releasing the student's transcript or certificate of   completion of training to the student. The career school or college   must release the transcript or certificate to the student on the   student's initiation of payment under the repayment plan.           (c)     A career school or college may charge a student a fee in   connection with the release of a transcript or certificate of   completion of training.   The amount of the fee may not exceed the   cost of materials used to print, mail, or electronically send the   transcript or certificate.           (d)     For purposes of this section, "student" includes a   former student.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.