Central RAC backs DWR changes to surrender and medical-variance rules

SPRINGVILLE, Utah — The Central Regional Advisory Council unanimously voted July 29 to recommend the Division of Wildlife’s proposed changes to R657-42 and R657-57, rules covering permit surrenders and medical variances. The RAC’s motion accepted the division’s administrative changes as presented. The changes would let hunters who must surrender permits because of late agency postings qualify for refunds under an exception, shorten the window for submitting medical documentation from 90 days after a hunt ends to 30 days, and add language aligning the division’s rule with state code for medical refunds. ‘‘So we are asking to switch that to 30 days, to get that so we can take care of their eligibility issues and restate their points into them when needed,’’ Division staff member Lindy Varney told the RAC during the presentation. Rationale and scope: Varney said the 30-day window responds to eligibility problems caused when medical paperwork arrives months after a hunt ends — doctors decline to file paperwork or applicants procrastinate — preventing reinstatement of preference points or waiver of waiting periods. She said surrenders for medical reasons make up about 20–30% of surrendered tags, and surrendered tags overall are about 8% of all tags, though the division emphasized the overall numbers are small. ‘‘It is a small number, but when you’re dealing with hundreds across species and general seasons, there’s still a lot of people,’’ Varney said. Enforcement and fraud concerns: RAC members pressed the division about fraud and physician documentation. Jim Schuler, a RAC member, asked whether falsified medical letters could be criminal; Varney said falsifying such a statement can carry criminal liability and the division refers suspected fraud to law enforcement. RAC members recommended the division create a standardized physician form and consider a HIPAA waiver so physicians understand the legal stakes. Varney said the division had tried a form previously and would revisit the idea. Public input and outcome: The RAC heard three votes during the public-comment summary on the item — two ‘‘strongly agree’’ and one ‘‘strongly disagree’’ — and then moved to a formal motion. Jim Schuler made the motion to accept the division’s recommendations; John Ziegler seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Why it matters: The changes affect how quickly hunters with medical or unexpected issues can recover preference points or receive refunds, and they alter administrative time frames for the division. RAC members requested the division follow up with outreach to medical providers to reduce fraud and confusion. What’s next: The RAC recommendation will be forwarded to the wildlife board as part of the advisory process. The division noted the changes are administrative and intended to align internal practice with state code.