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On November 2, 2015, the President signed into law the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, which further amended the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, to improve the effectiveness of civil monetary penalties and to maintain their deterrent effect.

Pursuant to the 2015 Act, all agencies must adjust civil monetary penalties annually and publish the adjustment in the Federal Register. Accordingly, this Final Rule adjusts DHS's civil monetary penalties pursuant to the 2015 Act and OMB guidance. The new penalties will be effective for penalties assessed after January 27, 2017, whose associated violations occurred after November 2, 2015. DHS also announces that it will make its required annual adjustment of civil monetary penalties in future years by publication of a Final Rule notwithstanding the notice and comment provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act.

Overall Description of Deadline: Pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, the interim final rule must be published by July 1, 2016 and effective no later than August 1, 2016.