CHICAGO. – State Senator Omar Aquino’s (D-Chicago) legislation that protects higher education students from debt relief scams was signed into law today. The law prevents scams from hurting student borrowers who are already struggling to make their student loans payments.

“Unregistered student loan debt relief providers target these students, charging them excessive fees for services that can be accessed for free throughout the U.S. Dept. of Education. We must protect borrowers from these scams,” Aquino said.

Senate Bill 669 requires student loan debt relief companies to disclose that they are not affiliated with the Dept. of Education and limits the fees they can charge student loan borrowers in exchange for their counseling services.

“The dream of attending college to seek a bright professional future should not become a downward path into unnecessary debt. I thank my colleagues in the General Assembly for their support and Governor J.B. Pritzker for signing this legislation that favors our best investment: Illinois’ people.” Aquino said.

The legislation takes effect immediately.