Legislation protects students by creating a new licensing process for student loan servicers in the Division of Banks and empowers state officials to investigate and fine loan servicers
On Thursday 12th of April, The Massachusetts State Senate voted to pass S.2380, An Act establishing a student loan bill of rights. The Student Loan Bill of Rights gives greater protections to student loan borrowers in disputes with companies servicing their loans. Earlier this year, President Trump’s Education Secretary Betsy DeVos rescinded consumer protections that safeguarded student borrowers from deceptive and fraudulent practices by student loan servicers.
The bill requires student loan servicers to be licensed companies with the state Division of Banks, and empowers state officials to investigate the servicers and take action against those that violate the state’s banking and consumer protection laws.
The bill also supports the ongoing work of Attorney General Maura Healey’s Student Loan Assistance Unit by establishing a Student Loan Ombudsman in the Attorney General’s Office, who will lead efforts, respond to complaints from student loan borrowers and help them understand their rights.
Senator Cyr joined his colleague Senator Eric Lesser (D-Longmeadow) as co-lead sponsor of this bill in the Senate.
“At a time when the fundamental promise of higher education has become a costly burden to most families — and inaccessible to many — we must take action to stop predatory lenders from profiting off the dreams of students and families”, said State Senator Julian Cyr (D-Truro). “With nearly one million current student loan borrowers in Massachusetts, and the second fastest growing debt burden in the nation, I’m proud that the Senate unanimously passed this bill. This legislation will bring greater oversight and accountability to student loan servicers and protect Massachusetts residents from further deceptive practices that bankrupt individuals and burden families with insurmountable levels of student debt.”
“A college degree has never cost so much. As a result, students are taking on substantial debt, and they are being taken advantage of by servicers who use deceptive practices and wrongly steer them into costly repayment plans. While the Trump Administration, led by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, continues to side with large for-profit student loan servicers and strip away protections for student loan borrowers, we in Massachusetts are standing up to protect our residents from predatory student loan companies,” said Senator Eric P. Lesser (D-Longmeadow), lead sponsor of the bill in the Senate.
“As public officials, it is our duty to ensure fair and appropriate lending – especially in the student loan industry,” said Senate President Harriette L. Chandler (D-Worcester). “This legislation ensures that Massachusetts residents receive robust consumer protections and that the student loan industry is given the proper level of oversight. I want to thank Senator Lesser for his leadership on this issue.”
“Taking on abuses in the student loan industry has long been a priority of my office. That’s why, in 2015, we created a Student Loan Assistance Unit to help borrowers with their student loans,” said Attorney General Maura Healey. “I thank Senate President Chandler, Senator Lesser and the Senate for providing new resources and tools to protect Massachusetts students and families.”
Under the bill, student loan servicers would have to apply for licenses from the state, which the Commissioner of Banks could revoke if the servicer is engaged in abusive practices such as overcharging students or steering them into costlier repayment plans to make higher profits.
Student loan servicers that break state licensing requirements or take advantage of students could be fined and forced to repay student borrowers under the bill.
The bill now goes to the State House of Representatives, where Representative Natalie Higgins (D-Leominster) is the lead sponsor of the House companion bill.