(1) A person is covered by a participation exemption if the Secretary is satisfied that the person is temporarily unable to meet the participation requirements because of illness or an accident.
(1A) Subsection (1) does not apply to illness, or an accident, wholly or predominantly attributable to the person's dependence on alcohol or another drug, unless the person is a declared program participant.
(2) The person is covered by the participation exemption for a period determined by the Secretary.
(3) In deciding whether he or she is satisfied as mentioned in subsection (1), the Secretary may request the person to give the Secretary a certificate from a medical practitioner.
(4) Subsection (3) does not limit subsection (1).
(5) A determination under subsection (2) is not a legislative instrument.