(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 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.
Maryland Legal Code