AN ACT Relating to homes for the aged; amending RCW 84.36.040, 84.36.810, and 84.36.383; adding a new sections to chapter 84.36 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

Sec. 1. Section 84.36.040, chapter 15, Laws of 1961 as last amended by section 1, chapter 31, Laws of 1987 and RCW 84.36.040 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The real and personal property used by nonprofit ((~~(1)~~)) (a) day care centers as defined pursuant to RCW 74.15.020 ((~~as now or hereafter amended; (2)~~)); (b) free public libraries; ((~~(3)~~)) (c) orphanages and orphan asylums; ((~~(4)~~)) (d) homes for the ((~~aged; (5)~~)) aging, to the extent provided in section 2 of this act; (e) homes for the sick or infirm; ((~~(6)~~)) (f) hospitals for the sick; and ((~~(7)~~)) (g) outpatient dialysis facilities, which are used for the purposes of such organizations shall be exempt from taxation: PROVIDED, That the benefit of the exemption inures to the user.

(2) To be exempt under this section, the property must be used exclusively for the purposes for which exemption is granted, except as provided in RCW 84.36.805.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 84.36 RCW to read as follows:

(1) As used in this section:

(a) "Eligible resident" means a person who would be eligible for an exemption under RCW 84.36.381 if the person owned a single-family dwelling. For the purposes of determining eligibility under this section, a "cotenant" as used in RCW 84.36.383 means a person who resides with an eligible resident and who shares personal financial resources with the eligible resident.

(b) "Home for the aging" means a residential housing facility that (i) provides a housing arrangement chosen voluntarily by the resident, the resident's guardian, conservator, or other responsible person; (ii) has only residents who are at least sixty-two years of age or who have needs for care generally compatible with persons who are at least sixty-two years of age; and (iii) provides varying levels of care and supervision, as agreed to at the time of admission or as determined necessary at subsequent times of reappraisal.

(2) Each eligible resident of a home for the aging shall submit the form required under RCW 84.36.385 to the county assessor by July 1st of the assessment year. An eligible resident who has filed a form for a previous year need not file a new form until there is a change in status affecting the person's eligibility.

(3) All property reasonably necessary for the purposes of a home for the aging is exempt from taxation if either or both of the following are true:

(a) At least fifty percent of the occupied dwelling units in the home are occupied by eligible residents.

(b) The home is subsidized under a federal department of housing and urban development program. The department of revenue shall provide by rule a definition of homes eligible for exemption under this subsection (b), consistent with the purposes of this section.

(4) A home for the aging that does not meet the requirements of subsection (3) of this section is eligible for a partial exemption. The amount of exemption shall be calculated by multiplying the assessed value of the property reasonably necessary for the purposes of the home by a fraction. The numerator of the fraction is the number of dwelling units occupied by eligible persons multiplied by two. The denominator of the fraction is the total number of occupied dwelling units. The fraction shall never exceed one.

(5) A home for the aging that was exempt for taxes levied for collection in 1990 and is not fully exempt under this section is entitled to partial exemptions as follows:

(a) For taxes levied for collection in 1991, two-thirds of the assessed value that would otherwise be subject to tax under this section is exempt from taxation.

(b) For taxes levied for collection in 1992, one-third of the assessed value that would otherwise be subject to tax under this section is exempt from taxation.

(6) A home for the aging is exempt from taxation only if the organization operating the home for the aging is exempt from income tax under section 501(c) of the internal revenue code as existing on January 1, 1989, or such subsequent date as the director may provide by rule consistent with the purposes of this section.

Sec. 3. Section 8, chapter 40, Laws of 1973 2nd ex. sess. as last amended by section 2, chapter 468, Laws of 1987 and RCW 84.36.810 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, 84.36.040, 84.36.050, 84.36.060, and 84.36.037, 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 or 84.36.060;

(g) A change in the exempt portion of a home for the aging under section 2(4) of this act, 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 section 2(5) of this act.

Sec. 4. Section 2, chapter 182, Laws of 1974 ex. sess. as last amended by section 2, chapter 155, Laws of 1987 and RCW 84.36.383 are each amended to read as follows:

As used in RCW 84.36.381 through 84.36.389, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

(1) The term "residence" shall mean a single family dwelling unit whether such unit be separate or part of a multiunit dwelling, including the land on which such dwelling stands not to exceed one acre. The term shall also include a share ownership in a cooperative housing association, corporation, or partnership if the person claiming exemption can establish that his or her share represents the specific unit or portion of such structure in which he or she resides. The term shall also include a single family dwelling situated upon lands the fee of which is vested in the United States or any instrumentality thereof including an Indian tribe or in the state of Washington, and notwithstanding the provisions of RCW 84.04.080, 84.04.090 or 84.40.250, such a residence shall be deemed real property.

(2) The term "real property" shall also include a mobile home which has substantially lost its identity as a mobile unit by virtue of its being fixed in location upon land owned or leased by the owner of the mobile home and placed on a foundation (posts or blocks) with fixed pipe, connections with sewer, water, or other utilities: PROVIDED, That a mobile home located on land leased by the owner of the mobile home shall be subject, for tax billing, payment, and collection purposes, only to the personal property provisions of chapter 84.56 RCW and RCW 84.60.040.

(3) The term "preceding calendar year" shall mean the calendar year preceding the year in which the claim for exemption is to be made.

(4) "Department" shall mean the state department of revenue.

(5) "Combined disposable income" means the disposable income of the person claiming the exemption, plus the disposable income of his or her spouse, and the disposable income of each cotenant occupying the residence for the preceding calendar year, less amounts paid by the person claiming the exemption or his or her spouse during the previous year for the treatment or care of either person in a nursing home.

(6) "Disposable income" means adjusted gross income as defined in the federal internal revenue code, as amended prior to January 1, ((~~1980,~~)) 1989, or such subsequent date as the director may provide by rule consistent with the purpose of this section, plus all of the following items to the extent they are not included in or have been deducted from adjusted gross income:

(a) Capital gains;

(b) Amounts deducted for loss;

(d) Pension and annuity receipts;

(e) Military pay and benefits other than attendant-care and medical-aid payments;

(f) Veterans benefits other than attendant-care and medical-aid payments;

(g) Federal social security act and railroad retirement benefits;

(h) Dividend receipts; and

(i) Interest received on state and municipal bonds.

(7) "Cotenant" means a person who resides with the person claiming the exemption and who has an ownership interest in the residence.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. This act shall be effective for taxes levied for collection in 1991 and thereafter.