N.Y. Education Law § 640: Student debt; prohibited practices

§ 640. Student debt; prohibited practices. 1. No degree-granting

institution or licensed private career school, as defined by section

five thousand one of this chapter, shall:

(a) withhold a transcript because a student owes a debt to such

institution or school;

(b) condition the provision of a transcript on a student's payment of

a debt to such institution or school; or

(c) charge a higher fee or provide less favorable treatment of a

transcript request because a student owes a debt to such institution or

school, provided however, that an institution or school may charge a fee

for the issuance of a transcript.

2. In addition to such penalties as may otherwise be applicable by

law, the superintendent of financial services may, after notice and

hearing, enjoin such transcript withholding practices and require any

institution or school found to be in violation of the provisions of this

article to pay to the people of this state a penalty of five hundred

dollars for each violation.

3. In addition to the right of action granted to the superintendent of

financial services pursuant to this section, any person who has been

injured by reason of any violation of this section may bring an action

in their own name to enjoin such unlawful act or practice. The court

may, in its discretion, award reasonable attorneys' fees to the

prevailing plaintiff.