2778-S

H-4896.1 _______________________________________________

SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2778

_______________________________________________

State of Washington 54th Legislature 1996 Regular Session

By House Committee on Agriculture & Ecology (originally sponsored by Representatives Mastin, Chappell, Chandler, Honeyford, Foreman, Mulliken, Lisk, Clements, Sheldon and Thompson; by request of Department of Health and Department of Agriculture)

Read first time 02/02/96.

AN ACT Relating to sales and use tax exemptions for farmworker housing; adding a new section to chapter 82.08 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 82.12 RCW; and declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 82.08 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to charges made for labor and services rendered by any person in respect to the constructing, repairing, decorating, or improving of new or existing buildings or other structures used as agricultural employee housing, or to sales of tangible personal property that becomes an ingredient or component of the buildings or other structures during the course of the constructing, repairing, decorating, or improving the buildings or other structures, but only if the buyer provides the seller with an exemption certificate in a form and manner prescribed by the department by rule.

(2) The exemption provided in this section for agricultural employee housing provided to year-round employees of the agricultural employer, only applies if that housing is built to the current building code for single-family or multifamily dwellings according to the state building code, chapter 19.27 RCW.

(3) Any agricultural employee housing built under this section shall be used according to this section for at least five years from the date the housing is approved for occupation.

(4) The exemption provided in this section shall not apply to housing built for the occupancy of an employer, family members of an employer, or persons owning stock or shares in a farm partnership or corporation business.

(5) For purposes of this section and section 2 of this act:

(a) "Agricultural employee" or "employee" has the same meaning as given in RCW 19.30.010;

(b) "Agricultural employer" or "employer" has the same meaning as given in RCW 19.30.010; and

(c) "Agricultural employee housing" means all facilities provided by the employer for housing the employer's agricultural employees on a year-round or seasonal basis, including bathing, food handling, hand washing, laundry, and toilet facilities, single-family and multifamily dwelling units and dormitories, and includes labor camps under RCW 70.54.110. "Agricultural employee housing" does not include housing regularly provided on a commercial basis to the general public that is provided to agricultural employees on the same terms and conditions as it is provided to the general public.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 82.12 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in respect to the use of tangible personal property that becomes an ingredient or component of buildings or other structures used as agricultural employee housing during the course of constructing, repairing, decorating, or improving the buildings or other structures by any person.

(3) Any agricultural employee housing built under this section shall be used according to this section for at least five years from the date the housing is approved for occupation.

(5) The definitions in section 1(5) of this act apply to this section.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.