Sec. 8. (a) The executive director may grant a variance to a rule governing the state disaster relief fund under 290 IAC 1. A variance granted under this section must promote the effective and expeditious distribution of relief assistance.

     (b) The executive director may grant a variance to a rule under subsection (a) if an applicant for financial assistance under 290 IAC 1-1 or 290 IAC 1-2 does the following:

(1) Submits to the executive director a written or electronic request for the variance in the form and manner specified by the executive director.

(2) Documents that compliance with the rule specified in the application for the variance will create an undue hardship on the applicant, as determined by the executive director.

(3) Documents that the applicant for the variance will be in substantial compliance with 290 IAC 1-1 or 290 IAC 1-2, as applicable, after the variance is granted, as determined by the executive director.

(4) Documents that noncompliance with the rule specified in the application for a variance will not be adverse to public health and safety or the purposes of the fund, as determined by the executive director.

     (c) A variance granted under subsection (b) must be conditioned upon compliance with the alternative method approved by the executive director. Noncompliance with the alternative method constitutes the violation of a rule of the executive director and may be the basis for revoking the variance.

As added by P.L.45-2012, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.57-2020, SEC.6.