Section 630. Emergency awards

1. Notwithstanding the provisions of section
  six hundred twenty-seven of this article, if it  appears  to  the  board
  member  to whom a claim is assigned, that such claim is one with respect
  to which an award probably will be made, and undue hardship will  result
  to  the claimant if immediate payment is not made, such board member may
  make one or more emergency  awards  to  the  claimant  pending  a  final
  decision  of  the  board  or  payment of an award in the case, provided,
  however, that the total amount of such emergency awards shall not exceed
  twenty-five hundred dollars. The amount of such emergency  awards  shall
  be deducted from any final award made to the claimant, and the excess of
  the  amount  of  any  such  emergency award over the amount of the final
  award, or the full amount of any emergency awards if no final  award  is
  made, shall be repaid by the claimant to the board.
    2.  Notwithstanding the provisions of section six hundred twenty-seven
  of this article, local crime victim service programs shall be authorized
  to provide emergency awards to  crime  victims  for  essential  personal
  property,   medical   treatment,   shelter   costs,  security  services,
  counseling and transportation the total amount of such emergency  awards
  not  to  exceed five hundred dollars. These programs shall be reimbursed
  by the board, pursuant to the provisions  of  this  article,  if  it  is
  subsequently  determined  that the victim is an eligible claimant. Local
  crime victim service programs shall be authorized to  establish  special
  accounts  for this purpose. The board shall initiate a program to assist
  local crime victim service programs in establishing special accounts  to
  provide emergency awards, within amounts designated for that purpose.