Utah Administrative Code
Topic - Natural Resources
Title R657 - Wildlife Resources
Rule R657-41 - Conservation and Sportsman Permits
Section R657-41-9 - Conservation Permit Funds and Reporting

(i) possesses a valid Utah hunting or combination license;

(ii) remits to the division the applicable permit fee; and

(iii) is otherwise legally eligible to possess the particular hunting permit.

(i) Eligible projects include habitat improvement, habitat acquisition, transplants, targeted education efforts and other projects providing a substantial benefit to species of wildlife for which conservation permits are issued, unless the division and conservation organization mutually agree in writing that there is a higher priority use for other species of protected wildlife.

(ii) Retained revenue may not be committed to or expended on any eligible project without first obtaining the division director's written concurrence.

(iii) Retained revenue may not be used on any project that does not provide a substantial and direct benefit to conservation permit species or other protected wildlife located in Utah.

(iv) For direct purchases, the division may require conservation organizations to engage in a competitive bid process or otherwise document benefits to a conservation permit species as a prerequisite to division approval.

(v) Cash donations to the Wildlife Habitat Account created under Section 23A-3-207, Division Species Enhancement Funds, or the Conservation Permit Fund shall be considered an eligible project and do not require the division director's approval, provided the donation is made with instructions that it be used for species of wildlife for which conservation permits are issued.

(vi) Funds committed to approved division projects will be transferred to the division within 60 days of being invoiced by the division.

(vii) If the division-approved project to which funds are committed is completed under projected budget or is canceled, funds committed to the project that are not used will be kept by the division and credited back to the conservation organization but will be made available for the group to use on other approved projects during the current or subsequent year.

(viii) Retained revenue shall be spent in a manner that is consistent with the division's strategic plan and or consistent with a management plan for a conservation permit species.

(ix) Retained revenue under this subsection must be placed in a federally insured account. All interest revenue earned thereon must be accounted for and used consistent with the requirements of this subsection.

(x) Retained revenue may not be used by the conservation organization as collateral or commingled in the same account with the organization's operation and administration funds, so that the separate identity of the retained revenue is not lost.

(xi) Retained revenue must be completely expended on approved eligible projects or transferred to the division by August 15, two years following the year in which the relevant conservation permits are awarded to the conservation organization by the Wildlife Board. Failure to expend or transfer to the division retained revenue by the August 15 deadline will disqualify the conservation organization from obtaining any future conservation permits until the unspent retained revenue is expended on an approved eligible project or transferred to the division.

(xii) All records and receipts for projects under this subsection must be retained by the conservation organization for a period not less than five years, and shall be produced to the division for inspection upon request.