HIGHER ED-DEBT ASSISTANCE

Amends the Student Debt Assistance Act. Provides that an institution of higher education shall provide an official transcript of a current or former student to the current or former student under specified conditions (instead of providing that an institution of higher education must provide an official transcript of a current or former student to a current or potential employer, even if the current or former student owes a debt). Provides that an institution of higher education may adopt a more lenient policy on providing an official transcript to a current or former student who owes a debt. Provides that beginning with the 2023-2024 academic year, each institution of higher education shall adopt a policy that outlines the process by which a current or former student may obtain a transcript or diploma that has been withheld from the student because the student owes a debt. Provides for minimum requirements for the policy. Provides that the institution of higher education does not need to institute a new policy if the institution's current policy meets the minimum requirements. Provides that on or before July 1, 2024 and on or before each July 1 thereafter, each institution of higher education shall report to the Board of Higher Education information regarding financial-based transcript and registration holds. Provides that complaints from current or former students who have had an unofficial or official transcript withheld may be filed with the Attorney General's student loan ombudsperson. Makes conforming changes.