HB 2282 - DIGEST

     Declares an emergency caused by a natural disaster, which was the severe storm that damaged agricultural crops on June 26 and 27, 2001, in thirteen counties as designated by the governor and the secretary of the United States department of agriculture.

     Provides that an additional benefit period is established for an individual who is engaged in agricultural employment in standard industrial classification code 011, 016, 017, or 203, but who is unemployed as a direct result of an emergency declared by the governor.

     Provides that all real property, including perennial vines and orchard trees, owned or leased by a farmer, as defined in RCW 82.04.213, and exclusively used for the growing of an agricultural product, as defined in RCW 82.04.213, excluding products of animal husbandry, which agricultural product was damaged in severe storms that occurred on June 26 and 27, 2001, is exempt from all regular and excess property taxes, if the farmer meets the requirements set out in this act.

     Appropriates the sum of one million five hundred thousand dollars from the emergency reserve fund to the office of community development for fiscal year 2002 solely for the purposes of providing assistance to farm workers who have been displaced by the June 26 and 27, 2001, storm in thirteen counties designated by the governor and the secretary of the United States department of agriculture.

     Appropriates the sum of three million dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary,  from the emergency reserve fund to the department of revenue for fiscal years 2002 and 2003 solely for the purposes of this act.