AN ACT Relating to the property taxation of nonprofit organizations providing demonstration farms with research and extension facilities, public agricultural museums, and educational tour sites; amending RCW 84.34.108; reenacting and amending RCW 84.36.805 and 84.36.810; and adding a new section to chapter 84.36 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 84.36 RCW to read as follows:

(1) All real and personal property owned by a nonprofit organization, corporation, or association to provide a demonstration farm with research and extension facilities, a public agricultural museum, and an educational tour site, which is used by a state university for agricultural research and education programs, is exempt from property taxation. This exemption includes all real and personal property that may be used in the production and sale of agricultural products, not to exceed fifty acres, if the income is used to further the purposes of the organization, corporation, or association.

(2) To qualify for this exemption:

(a) The nonprofit organization, corporation, or association must be qualified for exemption under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(3)); and

(b) The property must be used exclusively for the purposes for which the exemption is granted, except as provided in RCW 84.36.805.

Sec. 2. RCW 84.34.108 and 1992 c 69 s 12 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) When land has once been classified under this chapter, a notation of such classification shall be made each year upon the assessment and tax rolls and such land shall be valued pursuant to RCW 84.34.060 or 84.34.065 until removal of all or a portion of such classification by the assessor upon occurrence of any of the following:

(a) Receipt of notice from the owner to remove all or a portion of such classification;

(b) Sale or transfer to an ownership, except a transfer that resulted from a default in loan payments made to or secured by a governmental agency that intends to or is required by law or regulation to resell the property for the same use as before, making all or a portion of such land exempt from ad valorem taxation;

(c) Sale or transfer of all or a portion of such land to a new owner, unless the new owner has signed a notice of classification continuance, except transfer to an owner who is an heir or devisee of a deceased owner shall not, by itself, result in removal of classification. The signed notice of continuance shall be attached to the real estate excise tax affidavit provided for in RCW ((~~82.45.120, as now or hereafter amended~~)) 82.45.150. The notice of continuance shall be on a form prepared by the department of revenue. If the notice of continuance is not signed by the new owner and attached to the real estate excise tax affidavit, all additional taxes calculated pursuant to subsection (3) of this section shall become due and payable by the seller or transferor at time of sale. The county auditor shall not accept an instrument of conveyance of classified land for filing or recording unless the new owner has signed the notice of continuance or the additional tax has been paid. The seller, transferor, or new owner may appeal the new assessed valuation calculated under subsection (3) of this section to the county board of equalization. Jurisdiction is hereby conferred on the county board of equalization to hear these appeals;

(d) Determination by the assessor, after giving the owner written notice and an opportunity to be heard, that all or a portion of such land no longer meets the criteria for classification under this chapter. The criteria for classification pursuant to this chapter continue to apply after classification has been granted.

The granting authority, upon request of an assessor, shall provide reasonable assistance to the assessor in making a determination whether such land continues to meet the qualifications of RCW 84.34.020 (1) or (3). The assistance shall be provided within thirty days of receipt of the request.

(2) Within thirty days after such removal of all or a portion of such land from current use classification, the assessor shall notify the owner in writing, setting forth the reasons for such removal. The seller, transferor, or owner may appeal such removal to the county board of equalization.

(3) Unless the removal is reversed on appeal, the assessor shall revalue the affected land with reference to full market value on the date of removal from classification. Both the assessed valuation before and after the removal of classification shall be listed and taxes shall be allocated according to that part of the year to which each assessed valuation applies. Except as provided in subsection (5) of this section, an additional tax, applicable interest, and penalty shall be imposed which shall be due and payable to the county treasurer thirty days after the owner is notified of the amount of the additional tax. As soon as possible, the assessor shall compute the amount of such an additional tax, applicable interest, and penalty and the treasurer shall mail notice to the owner of the amount thereof and the date on which payment is due. The amount of such additional tax, applicable interest, and penalty shall be determined as follows:

(a) The amount of additional tax shall be equal to the difference between the property tax paid as "open space land", "farm and agricultural land", or "timber land" and the amount of property tax otherwise due and payable for the seven years last past had the land not been so classified;

(b) The amount of applicable interest shall be equal to the interest upon the amounts of such additional tax paid at the same statutory rate charged on delinquent property taxes from the dates on which such additional tax could have been paid without penalty if the land had been assessed at a value without regard to this chapter;

(c) The amount of the penalty shall be as provided in RCW 84.34.080. The penalty shall not be imposed if the removal satisfies the conditions of RCW 84.34.070.

(4) Additional tax, applicable interest, and penalty, shall become a lien on such land which shall attach at the time such land is removed from classification under this chapter and shall have priority to and shall be fully paid and satisfied before any recognizance, mortgage, judgment, debt, obligation or responsibility to or with which such land may become charged or liable. Such lien may be foreclosed upon expiration of the same period after delinquency and in the same manner provided by law for foreclosure of liens for delinquent real property taxes as provided in RCW 84.64.050 now or as hereafter amended. Any additional tax unpaid on its due date shall thereupon become delinquent. From the date of delinquency until paid, interest shall be charged at the same rate applied by law to delinquent ad valorem property taxes.

(5) The additional tax, applicable interest, and penalty specified in subsection (3) of this section shall not be imposed if the removal of classification pursuant to subsection (1) of this section resulted solely from:

(a) Transfer to a government entity in exchange for other land located within the state of Washington;

(b)(i) A taking through the exercise of the power of eminent domain, or (ii) sale or transfer to an entity having the power of eminent domain in anticipation of the exercise of such power, said entity having manifested its intent in writing or by other official action;

(c) A natural disaster such as a flood, windstorm, earthquake, or other such calamity rather than by virtue of the act of the landowner changing the use of such property;

(d) Official action by an agency of the state of Washington or by the county or city within which the land is located which disallows the present use of such land;

(e) Transfer of land to a church when such land would qualify for exemption pursuant to RCW 84.36.020;

(f) Acquisition of property interests by state agencies or agencies or organizations qualified under RCW 84.34.210 and 64.04.130 for the purposes enumerated in those sections: PROVIDED, That at such time as these property interests are not used for the purposes enumerated in RCW 84.34.210 and 64.04.130 the additional tax specified in subsection (3) of this section shall be imposed; ((or))

(g) Removal of land classified as farm and agricultural land under RCW 84.34.020(2)(d); or

(h) Removal of land from classification after enactment of a statutory exemption that qualifies the land for exemption and receipt of notice from the owner to remove the land from classification.

Sec. 3. RCW 84.36.805 and 1998 c 311 s 25, 1998 c 202 s 3, and 1998 c 184 s 2 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

(1) In order to ((~~be exempt pursuant to RCW 84.36.030, 84.36.035, 84.36.037, 84.36.040, 84.36.041, 84.36.043, 84.36.045, 84.36.046, 84.36.047, 84.36.050, 84.36.060, 84.36.350, 84.36.480, 84.36.550, and 84.36.042~~)) qualify for an exemption under this chapter, the nonprofit organizations, associations, or corporations ((~~shall~~)) must satisfy the ((~~following~~)) conditions((:)) in this section.

((~~(1)~~)) (2) The property ((is)) must be used exclusively for the actual operation of the activity for which exemption is granted, unless otherwise provided, and does not exceed an amount reasonably necessary for that purpose, except:

(a) The loan or rental of the property does not subject the property to tax if:

(i) The rents and donations received for the use of the portion of the property are reasonable and do not exceed the maintenance and operation expenses attributable to the portion of the property loaned or rented; and

(ii) Except for the exemptions under RCW 84.36.030(4) and 84.36.037, the property would be exempt from tax if owned by the organization to which it is loaned or rented;

(b) The use of the property for fund-raising activities does not subject the property to tax if the fund-raising activities are consistent with the purposes for which the exemption is granted((;)).

((~~(2)~~)) (3) The property ((is)) must be irrevocably dedicated to the purpose for which exemption has been granted, and on the liquidation, dissolution, or abandonment by said organization, association, or corporation, said property will not inure directly or indirectly to the benefit of any shareholder or individual, except a nonprofit organization, association, or corporation which too would be entitled to property tax exemption. This property need not be irrevocably dedicated if it is leased or rented to those qualified for exemption ((pursuant to RCW 84.36.035, 84.36.040, 84.36.041, 84.36.043, 84.36.045, 84.36.046, or 84.36.042 or those qualified for exemption as an association engaged in the production or performance of musical, dance, artistic, dramatic, or literary works pursuant to RCW 84.36.060)) under this chapter for leased property, but only if under the terms of the lease or rental agreement the nonprofit organization, association, or corporation receives the benefit of the exemption((;)).

((~~(3)~~)) (4) The facilities and services ((~~are~~)) must be available to all regardless of race, color, national origin or ancestry((;)).

((~~(4)~~)) (5) The organization, association, or corporation ((is)) must be duly licensed or certified where such licensing or certification is required by law or regulation((;)).

((~~(5)~~)) (6) Property sold to organizations, associations, or corporations with an option to be repurchased by the seller shall not qualify for exempt status((;)).

((~~(6)~~)) (7) The ((~~director of the~~)) department ((~~of revenue~~)) shall have access to its books in order to determine whether ((~~such~~)) the nonprofit organization, association, or corporation is exempt from taxes ((~~within the intent of RCW 84.36.030, 84.36.035, 84.36.037, 84.36.040, 84.36.041, 84.36.043, 84.36.045, 84.36.046, 84.36.047, 84.36.050, 84.36.060, 84.36.350, 84.36.480, and 84.36.042~~)) under this chapter.

(8) This section does not apply to exemptions granted under RCW 84.36.020, 84.36.032, 84.36.250, and 84.36.260.

Sec. 4. RCW 84.36.810 and 1998 c 311 s 26 and 1998 c 202 s 4 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

(1) Upon cessation of a use under which an exemption has been granted pursuant to RCW 84.36.030, 84.36.037, 84.36.040, 84.36.041, 84.36.042, 84.36.043, 84.36.046, 84.36.050, 84.36.060, 84.36.550, and ((~~84.36.042~~)) section 1 of this act, the county treasurer shall collect all taxes which would have been paid had the property not been exempt during the three years preceding, or the life of such exemption, if such be less, together with the interest at the same rate and computed in the same way as that upon delinquent property taxes. ((~~Where~~)) If the property has been granted an exemption for more than ten consecutive years, taxes and interest shall not be assessed under this section.

(2) Subsection (1) of this section applies only when ownership of the property is transferred or when fifty-one percent or more of the area of the property ((~~has lost~~)) loses its exempt status. The additional tax under subsection (1) of this section shall not be imposed if the cessation of use resulted solely from:

(a) Transfer to a nonprofit organization, association, or corporation for a use which also qualifies and is granted exemption under ((~~the provisions of~~)) this chapter ((~~84.36 RCW~~));

(b) A taking through the exercise of the power of eminent domain, or sale or transfer to an entity having the power of eminent domain in anticipation of the exercise of such power;

(c) Official action by an agency of the state of Washington or by the county or city within which the property is located which disallows the present use of such property;

(d) A natural disaster such as a flood, windstorm, earthquake, or other such calamity rather than by virtue of the act of the organization, association, or corporation changing the use of such property;

(e) Relocation of the activity and use of another location or site except for undeveloped properties of camp facilities exempted under RCW 84.36.030;

(f) Cancellation of a lease on leased property that had been exempt under ((~~RCW 84.36.040, 84.36.041, 84.36.043, 84.36.046, 84.36.060, or 84.36.042~~)) this chapter; or

(g) A change in the exempt portion of a home for the aging under RCW 84.36.041(3), as long as some portion of the home remains exempt((;

~~(h) The conversion of a full exemption of a home for the aging to a partial exemption or taxable status or the conversion of a partial exemption to taxable status under RCW 84.36.041(8)~~)).