An Act To Improve Student Access to Postsecondary School Transcripts and Diplomas
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1838
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: VITELLI, O'NEIL, BRENNER, CURRY, DAUGHTRY, HICKMAN, RAFFERTY, STEWART, TEPLER
Amends: 9-A MRSA §6, 20-A MRSA §10015

Legislative Document
No. 1838
S.P. 656
In Senate, December 22, 2021
An Act To Improve Student Access to Postsecondary School 
Transcripts and Diplomas
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on December 20, 2021.  Referred to the Committee 
on Education and Cultural Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator VITELLI of Sagadahoc.
Cosponsored by Representative O'NEIL of Saco and
Senators: BRENNER of Cumberland, CURRY of Waldo, DAUGHTRY of Cumberland, 
HICKMAN of Kennebec, RAFFERTY of York, STEWART of Aroostook, Representative: 
TEPLER of Topsham.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  9-A MRSA §6-104, sub-§1, ¶I, as amended by PL 2011, c. 427, Pt. A, §12, 
is further amended to read:
I.  Convene meetings of individuals representing various segments of the public and 
the consumer credit industry to advise and consult with the administrator concerning 
the exercise of powers under this Act and to make recommendations to the 
administrator.  The administrator may authorize reimbursement of reasonable expenses 
incurred in attending the meetings; and
Sec. 2.  9-A MRSA §6-104, sub-§1, ¶J, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 427, Pt. A, §13, 
is amended to read:
J.  To the extent permitted in Title X of the federal Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform 
and Consumer Protection Act, Public Law 111-203, Section 1042, enforce the 
provisions of Title X of the federal Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer 
Protection Act, Public Law 111-203 or regulations issued under those provisions with 
respect to entities that are state-chartered, incorporated, licensed or otherwise 
authorized to do business under the laws of this State and secure remedies under 
provisions of Title X of the federal Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer 
Protection Act, Public Law 111-203 or remedies otherwise provided under other 
provisions of law with respect to entities that are state-chartered, incorporated, licensed 
or otherwise authorized to do business under the laws of this State.; and
Sec. 3.  9-A MRSA §6-104, sub-§1, ¶K is enacted to read:
K.  Enforce the provisions of Title 20-A, section 10015.
Sec. 4.  20-A MRSA §10015 is enacted to read:
§10015.  Access to transcripts and diplomas
1.  Definitions.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings.
A. "Debt" means any money, obligation, claim or sum due or owing or alleged to be 
due or owing from a student.  "Debt" does not include the fee, if any, charged to all 
students for the costs of providing a transcript or diploma.
B.  "Postsecondary educational institution" means a public or private postsecondary 
school in the State.
2.  Prohibition.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a postsecondary 
educational institution may not:
A.  Refuse to provide a transcript or diploma for a current or former student on the 
grounds that the student owes a debt to the postsecondary institution;
B.  Condition the provision of a transcript or diploma on the payment of a debt to the 
postsecondary institution;
C.  Charge a higher fee for obtaining a transcript or diploma or provide less favorable 
treatment of a request for a transcript or diploma because a current or former student 
owes a debt to the postsecondary institution; or
D.  Use the issuance of a transcript or diploma as a tool for debt collection.
3.  Enforcement by Superintendent of Consumer Credit Protection.  The 
Superintendent of Consumer Credit Protection within the Department of Professional and 
Financial Regulation may take appropriate action to ensure compliance with this section.  
After notice and hearing, the Superintendent of Consumer Credit Protection may enjoin the 
practice of withholding a transcript or diploma in violation of this section and may assess 
a postsecondary educational institution that violates the provisions of this section a penalty 
of $500 for each violation.
4.  Unfair trade practice.  A violation of this section constitutes an unfair or deceptive 
act or practice in violation of Title 5, chapter 10.
5.  Rules.  The Superintendent of Consumer Credit Protection may adopt rules to 
implement this section.  Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical 
rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
SUMMARY
This bill prohibits any public or private postsecondary school in the State from refusing 
to provide a transcript or diploma for a student on the grounds that the student owes a debt, 
conditioning the provision of a transcript or diploma on the payment of a debt, charging a 
higher fee for obtaining a transcript or diploma or providing less favorable treatment of a 
request for a transcript or diploma because a student owes a debt or using the issuance of a 
transcript or diploma as a tool for debt collection.  It gives the authority to enforce the 
prohibitions to the Superintendent of Consumer Credit Protection within the Department 
of Professional and Financial Regulation.