Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Applicant" means a person applying for a tax credit under this chapter.

(2) "Department" means the department of revenue.

(3) "Eligible area" means a "rural county" as defined in RCW 82.14.370.

(4)(a) "Eligible business project" means manufacturing or research and development activities which are conducted by an applicant in an eligible area at a specific facility, provided the applicant's average qualified employment positions at the specific facility will be at least fifteen percent greater in the four consecutive full calendar quarters after the calendar quarter during which the first qualified employment position is filled than the applicant's average qualified employment positions at the same facility in the four consecutive full calendar quarters immediately preceding the calendar quarter during which the first qualified employment position is filled.

(b) "Eligible business project" does not include any portion of a business project undertaken by a light and power business as defined in RCW 82.16.010 or that portion of a business project creating qualified full-time employment positions outside an eligible area.

(5) "First qualified employment position" means the first qualified employment position filled for which a credit under this chapter is sought.

(6) "Manufacturing" means the same as defined in RCW 82.04.120. "Manufacturing" also includes:

(a) Before July 1, 2010: (i) Computer programming, the production of computer software, and other computer-related services, but only when the computer programming, production of computer software, or other computer-related services are performed by a manufacturer as defined in RCW 82.04.110 and contribute to the production of a new, different, or useful substance or article of tangible personal property for sale; and (ii) the activities performed by research and development laboratories and commercial testing laboratories; and

(b) Beginning July 1, 2010, the activities performed by research and development laboratories and commercial testing laboratories.

(7) "Person" has the meaning given in RCW 82.04.030.

(8)(a)(i) "Qualified employment position" means a permanent full-time employee employed in the eligible business project during four consecutive full calendar quarters.

(ii) For seasonal employers, "qualified employment position" also includes the equivalent of a full-time employee in work hours for four consecutive full calendar quarters.

(b) For purposes of this subsection, "full time" means a normal workweek of at least thirty-five hours.

(c) Once a permanent, full-time employee has been employed, a position does not cease to be a qualified employment position solely due to periods in which the position goes vacant, as long as:

(i) The cumulative period of any vacancies in that position is not more than one hundred twenty days in the four-quarter period; and

(ii) During a vacancy, the employer is training or actively recruiting a replacement permanent, full-time employee for the position.

(9) "Recipient" means a person receiving tax credits under this chapter.

(10) "Research and development" means the development, refinement, testing, marketing, and commercialization of a product, service, or process before commercial sales have begun, but only when such activities are intended to ultimately result in the production of a new, different, or useful substance or article of tangible personal property for sale. As used in this subsection, "commercial sales" excludes sales of prototypes or sales for market testing if the total gross receipts from such sales of the product, service, or process do not exceed one million dollars.

(11) "Seasonal employee" means an employee of a seasonal employer who works on a seasonal basis. For the purposes of this subsection and subsection (12) of this section, "seasonal basis" means a continuous employment period of less than twelve consecutive months.

(12) "Seasonal employer" means a person who regularly hires more than fifty percent of its employees to work on a seasonal basis.

Retroactive application—2010 1st sp.s. c 16 ss 2 and 11: See note following RCW 82.60.020.

Effective date—2010 1st sp.s. c 16: See note following RCW 82.60.010.

Effective date—2010 c 106: See note following RCW 35.102.145.

Application—2007 c 485: "Sections 1 through 3 and 5 of this act apply with respect to applications for credit under chapter 82.62 RCW received by the department of revenue on or after January 1, 2008." [ 2007 c 485 s 7.]

Application—Effective date—2007 c 485: See notes following RCW 82.62.020.

Effective date—2001 c 320: See note following RCW 11.02.005.

Intent—Severability—Effective date—1999 sp.s. c 9: See notes following RCW 82.04.120.

Findings—Intent—Part headings and subheadings not law—Effective date—Severability—1999 c 164: See notes following RCW 43.160.010.

Savings—1999 c 164 ss 301-303, 305, 306, and 601-603: See note following RCW 82.60.020.

Finding—Intent—Severability—1994 sp.s. c 7: See notes following RCW 43.70.540.

Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.

Severability—1988 c 42: See note following RCW 4.24.480.