TANF penalty provisions

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

Information on penalty provisions to states for failure to meet federal TANF requirements since 1996 (including penalties that were not imposed due to determination that the penalty provision was incorrect, reasonable cause, completion of a corrective compliance plan, etc.). Specifically, for each penalty provision,
1) State
2) Year
3) Reason for penalty provision
4) Penalty amount initially determined
5) Information on whether state responded that penalty was determined erroneously and, if so, DHHS's determination as to whether the penalty was determined erroneously
6) Information on whether state submitted reasonable cause justification and, if so, proposed reasonable cause and DHHS's determination as to whether it constituted reasonable cause
7) Information on whether the state submitted corrective compliance plan and, if so, whether it was accepted
8) For penalty provisions with accepted corrective compliance plans, information on whether state corrected or discontinued violation(s), made significant progress towards correcting or discontinuing violation(s), or failed to comply
9) For penalty provisions with accepted corrective compliance plans with which state failed to comply, information on whether DHHS determined failure to comply was attributable to natural disaster or regional recession
10) Penalty amount imposed
11) For penalty provisions that were assessed, information on whether state appealed decision and, if so, result of final decision
12) For penalty provisions that were appealed and issued final decision, information on whether state obtained judicial review and, if so, result of review

I also request copies of all accepted corrective compliance plans dating back to 1996.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Gabrielle Pepin