Senate Bill 2150

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-11-19, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ALLOW SCHOOLS TO WITHHOLD TRANSCRIPTS AND OTHER ACADEMIC INFORMATION IF STUDENT AND THE STUDENT'S PARENTS OR GUARDIANS FAIL TO RETURN SCHOOL-ISSUED MOBILE DEVICES OR TEXTBOOKS AND FAILED TO PAY THE FULL AMOUNT FOR THE UNRETURNED DEVICES OR TEXTBOOKS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 37-11-19, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-11-19. (1) If any pupil shall * * * ~~wilfully~~ willfully destroy, cut, deface, damage, or injure any school building, equipment or other school property he shall be liable to suspension or expulsion and his parents or person or persons in loco parentis shall be liable for all damages.

(2) (a) Any pupil who receives a textbook, E-book, iPad, tablet, laptop, or other digital mobile device from a public school, including public charter schools, for educational purposes shall be responsible for returning the loaned item to the school by a return date set by the school.

(b) If the pupil fails to return the item to the school by the set date, the pupil and his parents, guardians, or persons standing in loco parentis to the child shall be liable to the school for the full amount of the item.

(c) If the pupil and his parents, guardians, or persons standing in loco parentis to the child fail to pay the school for the full amount of the item, the school may withhold the pupil's transcripts or other academic information until the amount owed for the item is paid in full. The school may also withhold the awarding of a physical diploma to the pupil until the amount owed for the item is paid in full.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2021.