H-0859

AN ACT Relating to granting a tax exemption for qualifying medical clinics; amending RCW 84.36.800 and 84.36.810; reenacting and amending RCW 84.36.805; 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) Real or personal property owned by a nonprofit organization, association, or corporation in connection with the operation of a medical clinic providing medical services, the building or buildings of which may not exceed three thousand square feet in floor area, is exempt from taxation. "Hospitals," as defined by RCW 84.36.800, shall not be eligible for the exemption under this section. The area exempt under this section includes the building or buildings, the land under the buildings, and an additional area necessary for parking, not exceeding a total of one acre.

(2) The exemption is not nullified by the collection of rent or donations, or the lease or rental and operation of the medical clinic by a private person or organization if the lease or rental amount is reasonable and does not exceed maintenance and operation expenses created by the user.

(3) To qualify for this exemption, the property (a) must be used exclusively for medical clinic, emergency medical, and related purposes; and (b) must be located in an isolated area. The department of revenue shall by rule provide a definition of isolated area. The department shall include those geographic locations that are "ferry bound" and do not have a fixed physical connection with the mainland in the definition of "isolated area."

Sec. 2. RCW 84.36.800 and 1989 c 379 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

As used in RCW 84.36.020, 84.36.030, 84.36.037, 84.36.040, 84.36.041, 84.36.050, 84.36.060, section 1 of this act, and 84.36.800 through 84.36.865:

(1) "Church purposes" means the use of real and personal property owned by a nonprofit religious organization for religious worship or related administrative, educational, eleemosynary, and social activities. This definition is to be broadly construed;

(2) "Convent" means a house or set of buildings occupied by a community of clergymen or nuns devoted to religious life under a superior;

(3) "Hospital" means any portion of a hospital building, or other buildings in connection therewith, used as a residence for persons engaged or employed in the operation of a hospital, or operated as a portion of the hospital unit;

(4) "Nonprofit" means an organization, association or corporation no part of the income of which is paid directly or indirectly to its members, stockholders, officers, directors or trustees except in the form of services rendered by the organization, association, or corporation in accordance with its purposes and bylaws and the salary or compensation paid to officers of such organization, association or corporation is for actual services rendered and compares to the salary or compensation of like positions within the public services of the state;

(5) "Parsonage" means a residence occupied by a clergyman who is designated for a particular congregation and who holds regular services therefor.

Sec. 3. RCW 84.36.805 and 1990 c 283 s 7 and 1990 c 283 s 3 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

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, 84.36.047, 84.36.050, 84.36.060, section 1 of this act, 84.36.350, and 84.36.480, the nonprofit organizations, associations or corporations shall satisfy the following conditions:

(1) The property is 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, and section 1 of this act, 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) The property is 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: PROVIDED, That the property need not be irrevocably dedicated if it is leased or rented to those qualified for exemption pursuant to RCW 84.36.040, 84.36.041, or 84.36.043 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, 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) The facilities and services are available to all regardless of race, color, national origin or ancestry;

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

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

(6) The director of the department of revenue shall have access to its books in order to determine whether such 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, 84.36.047, 84.36.050, 84.36.060, section 1 of this act, 84.36.350, and 84.36.480.

Sec. 4. RCW 84.36.810 and 1990 c 283 s 4 are each 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, 84.36.043, 84.36.050, ((~~and~~)) 84.36.060, and 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: PROVIDED, That where the property has been granted an exemption for more than ten 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 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 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 property that had been exempt under RCW 84.36.040, 84.36.041, 84.36.043, or 84.36.060;

(g) A change in the exempt portion of a home for the aging under RCW 84.36.041(2), 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 under RCW 84.36.041(7).