§15–118.

    (a)    (1)    In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

        (2)    (i)    “Debt” means any money, obligation, claim, or sum due or owed by a student to an institution of higher education.

            (ii)    “Debt” includes:

                1.    Credit extended by or on behalf of the institution that a student is obligated to repay; and

                2.    A nonfederal loan or debt agreement that is issued expressly for postsecondary education expenses and that is guaranteed by:

                A.    An institution of higher education; or

                B.    A private educational lender that is affiliated with an institution of higher education.

            (iii)    “Debt” does not include the fee, if any, charged to a student for the actual costs of providing a transcript.

        (3)    “Student” includes current students and former students of an institution of higher education.

    (b)    An institution of higher education may not:

        (1)    Refuse to provide a transcript to a student because the student owes a debt;

        (2)    Condition the issuance of a transcript on the payment of a debt;

        (3)    Charge a higher fee for obtaining a transcript because a student owes a debt;

        (4)    Provide less favorable treatment of a transcript request because a student owes a debt; or

        (5)    Use transcript issuance as a tool for debt collection.