1. (a) A school corporation may not:

   1. (1) withhold curricular materials and supplies;
   2. (2) require any special services from a child or emancipated minor; or

   3. (3) deny the child or emancipated minor any benefit or privilege;

      because the parent or emancipated minor fails to pay a required fee, including a reasonable fee for lost or significantly damaged curricular materials imposed under IC 20-26-12-1 (b) or a reasonable fee for supplies and materials imposed under IC 20-26-12-1 (c).

2. (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), a school corporation may take any action authorized by law to collect unpaid fees from parents who are determined to be ineligible for assistance, including recovery of reasonable attorney's fees and court costs in addition to a judgment award against those parents.

3. (c) A school corporation may designate a full-time employee of the school corporation to represent the school corporation in a small claims court action under subsection (b) if the claim does not exceed one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500). The employee designated under this subsection is not required to be an attorney.

   [Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-8.1-9-10.]

As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.17. Amended by P.L.286-2013, SEC.115; P.L.251-2017, SEC.15; P.L.201-2023, SEC.176; P.L.214-2025, SEC.182.