BILL REQ. #:  H-1466.2 

Read first time 02/03/09.   Referred to Committee on Finance.

     AN ACT Relating to requiring assessors to give notice of the true and fair value of real property regardless of whether there was a change in value; and amending RCW 84.40.045.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 84.40.045 and 2001 c 187 s 19 are each amended to read as follows:
     The assessor shall give notice of any change in the true and fair value of real property for the tract or lot of land and any improvements thereon no later than thirty days after appraisal: PROVIDED, That no such notice shall be mailed during the period from January 15 to February 15 of each year: PROVIDED FURTHER, That no notice need be sent with respect to changes in valuation of forest land made pursuant to chapter 84.33 RCW.
     The notice shall contain a statement of both the prior and the new true and fair value, stating separately land and improvement values, and a brief statement of the procedure for appeal to the board of equalization and the time, date, and place of the meetings of the board.
     The notice shall be mailed by the assessor to the taxpayer.
     The assessor shall give notice of the true and fair value of real property every year regardless of whether there has been a change in the value from the prior year.
     If any taxpayer, as shown by the tax rolls, holds solely a security interest in the real property which is the subject of the notice, pursuant to a mortgage, contract of sale, or deed of trust, such taxpayer shall, upon written request of the assessor, supply, within thirty days of receipt of such request, to the assessor the name and address of the person making payments pursuant to the mortgage, contract of sale, or deed of trust, and thereafter such person shall also receive a copy of the notice provided for in this section. Willful failure to comply with such request within the time limitation provided for herein shall make such taxpayer subject to a maximum civil penalty of five thousand dollars. The penalties provided for herein shall be recoverable in an action by the county prosecutor, and when recovered shall be deposited in the county current expense fund. The assessor shall make the request provided for by this section during the month of January.