(a) An applicant must establish that the applicant has incurred a genuine hardship to be eligible to receive assistance from the fund. The hardship incurred by the applicant must:
- (1) directly impact the applicant's most central and basic living needs; and
- (2) not be a consequence of the applicant's own actions or choices, including discretionary expenditures on nonessential goods or services.
- (b) The department shall not make an award from the fund to cover luxury, entertainment, recreational, or other nonessential expenses.
As added by P.L.94-2026, SEC.52.