Final

Issued by: Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

Issue Date: December 12, 1997

To:

State Agencies Administering The Temporary Assistance For Needy Families (Tanf) Program And Other Interested Parties

Subject:

Revision to ACF TANF Program Instruction, TANF-ACF-PI-97-3, regarding amendments to completed TANF State plans

References:

Section 5501 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (P.L. 105-33), section 402 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA), TANF-ACF-PI-97-3, dated March 19, 1997

Purpose:

Section 5501(a) of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (P.L. 105-33), amends section 402(a) of PRWORA to include a subsection on plan amendments.  This program instruction revises TANF-ACF-PI-97-3, dated March 19, 1997, to reflect the changes made to section 402 of PRWORA and reiterates the process for submitting plan amendments.

Guidance:

During the period a TANF plan is in effect, States may submit amendments. Section 5501 of The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (P.L. 105-33) amends section 402 of PRWORA to provide that States notify the Secretary within 30 days after a TANF State plan is amended.  Since amendments are intended to be part of TANF plans that have already been determined complete, the section 402 authority to review submittals continues to apply.

State agencies have the discretion on the format and description of the amendment and the consultations required.  Examples of when such amendments should be prepared and submitted are: in instances where there are new or revised Federal statutes or regulations; reactions to applicable Federal or State court decisions; substantive changes in State law, organization, policy or operations; a correction of a mistake; and clarifications.  When submitting amendments States should clearly indicate what section of the TANF plan is being amended.

State agencies submitting plan amendments should send two copies of the amendment to the appropriate ACF Regional Administrator.  A copy of the amendment will be forwarded to the ACF Central Office for maintenance in the national State plan resource center.

Once the ACF review of the amendment is completed and there are no issues requiring further clarification, the ACF Regional Administrator will send the State agency a letter indicating that the amendment has been received, reviewed, and incorporated into the State's "complete" TANF plan.

Inquiries:

Inquiries should be addressed to the appropriate Administration for Children and Families Regional Administrator.

/s/

Lavinia Limón 
Director
Office of Family Assistance

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