AN ACT Relating to the taxation of lodging; amending RCW 82.04.050, 67.28.180, 67.28.181, 67.40.090, and 36.100.040; creating a new section; and declaring an emergency.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 82.04.050 and 2000 2nd sp.s. c 4 s 23 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) "Sale at retail" or "retail sale" means every sale of tangible personal property (including articles produced, fabricated, or imprinted) to all persons irrespective of the nature of their business and including, among others, without limiting the scope hereof, persons who install, repair, clean, alter, improve, construct, or decorate real or personal property of or for consumers other than a sale to a person who presents a resale certificate under RCW 82.04.470 and who:

(a) Purchases for the purpose of resale as tangible personal property in the regular course of business without intervening use by such person, but a purchase for the purpose of resale by a regional transit authority under RCW 81.112.300 is not a sale for resale; or

(b) Installs, repairs, cleans, alters, imprints, improves, constructs, or decorates real or personal property of or for consumers, if such tangible personal property becomes an ingredient or component of such real or personal property without intervening use by such person; or

(c) Purchases for the purpose of consuming the property purchased in producing for sale a new article of tangible personal property or substance, of which such property becomes an ingredient or component or is a chemical used in processing, when the primary purpose of such chemical is to create a chemical reaction directly through contact with an ingredient of a new article being produced for sale; or

(d) Purchases for the purpose of consuming the property purchased in producing ferrosilicon which is subsequently used in producing magnesium for sale, if the primary purpose of such property is to create a chemical reaction directly through contact with an ingredient of ferrosilicon; or

(e) Purchases for the purpose of providing the property to consumers as part of competitive telephone service, as defined in RCW 82.04.065. The term shall include every sale of tangible personal property which is used or consumed or to be used or consumed in the performance of any activity classified as a "sale at retail" or "retail sale" even though such property is resold or utilized as provided in (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e) of this subsection following such use. The term also means every sale of tangible personal property to persons engaged in any business which is taxable under RCW 82.04.280 (2) and (7) and 82.04.290.

(2) The term "sale at retail" or "retail sale" shall include the sale of or charge made for tangible personal property consumed and/or for labor and services rendered in respect to the following:

(a) The installing, repairing, cleaning, altering, imprinting, or improving of tangible personal property of or for consumers, including charges made for the mere use of facilities in respect thereto, but excluding charges made for the use of coin-operated laundry facilities when such facilities are situated in an apartment house, rooming house, or mobile home park for the exclusive use of the tenants thereof, and also excluding sales of laundry service to nonprofit health care facilities, and excluding services rendered in respect to live animals, birds and insects;

(b) The constructing, repairing, decorating, or improving of new or existing buildings or other structures under, upon, or above real property of or for consumers, including the installing or attaching of any article of tangible personal property therein or thereto, whether or not such personal property becomes a part of the realty by virtue of installation, and shall also include the sale of services or charges made for the clearing of land and the moving of earth excepting the mere leveling of land used in commercial farming or agriculture;

(c) The charge for labor and services rendered in respect to constructing, repairing, or improving any structure upon, above, or under any real property owned by an owner who conveys the property by title, possession, or any other means to the person performing such construction, repair, or improvement for the purpose of performing such construction, repair, or improvement and the property is then reconveyed by title, possession, or any other means to the original owner;

(d) The sale of or charge made for labor and services rendered in respect to the cleaning, fumigating, razing or moving of existing buildings or structures, but shall not include the charge made for janitorial services; and for purposes of this section the term "janitorial services" shall mean those cleaning and caretaking services ordinarily performed by commercial janitor service businesses including, but not limited to, wall and window washing, floor cleaning and waxing, and the cleaning in place of rugs, drapes and upholstery. The term "janitorial services" does not include painting, papering, repairing, furnace or septic tank cleaning, snow removal or sandblasting;

(e) The sale of or charge made for labor and services rendered in respect to automobile towing and similar automotive transportation services, but not in respect to those required to report and pay taxes under chapter 82.16 RCW;

(f) The sale of and charge made for the furnishing of lodging and all other services by a hotel, rooming house, tourist court, motel, trailer camp, and the granting of any similar license to use real property, as distinguished from the renting or leasing of real property, and it shall be presumed that the occupancy of real property for a continuous period of one month or more constitutes a rental or lease of real property and not a mere license to use or enjoy the same. For the purposes of this subsection, it shall be presumed that the sale of and charge made for the furnishing of lodging for a continuous period of one month or more to a person is a rental or lease of real property and not a mere license to enjoy the same;

(g) The sale of or charge made for tangible personal property, labor and services to persons taxable under (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), and (f) of this subsection when such sales or charges are for property, labor and services which are used or consumed in whole or in part by such persons in the performance of any activity defined as a "sale at retail" or "retail sale" even though such property, labor and services may be resold after such use or consumption. Nothing contained in this subsection shall be construed to modify subsection (1) of this section and nothing contained in subsection (1) of this section shall be construed to modify this subsection.

(3) The term "sale at retail" or "retail sale" shall include the sale of or charge made for personal, business, or professional services including amounts designated as interest, rents, fees, admission, and other service emoluments however designated, received by persons engaging in the following business activities:

(a) Amusement and recreation services including but not limited to golf, pool, billiards, skating, bowling, ski lifts and tows, day trips for sightseeing purposes, and others, when provided to consumers;

(b) Abstract, title insurance, and escrow services;

(d) Automobile parking and storage garage services;

(e) Landscape maintenance and horticultural services but excluding (i) horticultural services provided to farmers and (ii) pruning, trimming, repairing, removing, and clearing of trees and brush near electric transmission or distribution lines or equipment, if performed by or at the direction of an electric utility;

(f) Service charges associated with tickets to professional sporting events; and

(g) The following personal services: Physical fitness services, tanning salon services, tattoo parlor services, steam bath services, turkish bath services, escort services, and dating services.

(4) The term shall also include the renting or leasing of tangible personal property to consumers and the rental of equipment with an operator.

(5) The term shall also include the providing of telephone service, as defined in RCW 82.04.065, to consumers.

(6) The term shall also include the sale of canned software other than a sale to a person who presents a resale certificate under RCW 82.04.470, regardless of the method of delivery to the end user, but shall not include custom software or the customization of canned software.

(7) The term shall not include the sale of or charge made for labor and services rendered in respect to the building, repairing, or improving of any street, place, road, highway, easement, right of way, mass public transportation terminal or parking facility, bridge, tunnel, or trestle which is owned by a municipal corporation or political subdivision of the state or by the United States and which is used or to be used primarily for foot or vehicular traffic including mass transportation vehicles of any kind.

(8) The term shall also not include sales of chemical sprays or washes to persons for the purpose of postharvest treatment of fruit for the prevention of scald, fungus, mold, or decay, nor shall it include sales of feed, seed, seedlings, fertilizer, agents for enhanced pollination including insects such as bees, and spray materials to: (a) Persons who participate in the federal conservation reserve program, the environmental quality incentives program, the wetlands reserve program, and the wildlife habitat incentives program, or their successors administered by the United States department of agriculture; (b) farmers for the purpose of producing for sale any agricultural product; and (c) farmers acting under cooperative habitat development or access contracts with an organization exempt from federal income tax under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(3) or the Washington state department of fish and wildlife to produce or improve wildlife habitat on land that the farmer owns or leases.

(9) The term shall not include the sale of or charge made for labor and services rendered in respect to the constructing, repairing, decorating, or improving of new or existing buildings or other structures under, upon, or above real property of or for the United States, any instrumentality thereof, or a county or city housing authority created pursuant to chapter 35.82 RCW, including the installing, or attaching of any article of tangible personal property therein or thereto, whether or not such personal property becomes a part of the realty by virtue of installation. Nor shall the term include the sale of services or charges made for the clearing of land and the moving of earth of or for the United States, any instrumentality thereof, or a county or city housing authority. Nor shall the term include the sale of services or charges made for cleaning up for the United States, or its instrumentalities, radioactive waste and other byproducts of weapons production and nuclear research and development.

(10) Until July 1, 2003, the term shall not include the sale of or charge made for labor and services rendered for environmental remedial action as defined in RCW 82.04.2635(2).

Sec. 2. RCW 67.28.180 and 1997 c 220 s 501 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Subject to the conditions set forth in subsections (2) and (3) of this section, the legislative body of any county or any city, is authorized to levy and collect a special excise tax of not to exceed two percent on the sale of or charge made for the furnishing of lodging ((by a hotel, rooming house, tourist court, motel, trailer camp, and the granting of any similar license to use real property, as distinguished from the renting or leasing of real property: PROVIDED, That it shall be presumed that the occupancy of real property for a continuous period of one month or more constitutes a rental or lease of real property and not a mere license to use or to enjoy the same)) that is subject to tax under chapter 82.08 RCW.

(2) Any levy authorized by this section shall be subject to the following:

(a) Any county ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to this section shall contain, in addition to all other provisions required to conform to this chapter, a provision allowing a credit against the county tax for the full amount of any city tax imposed pursuant to this section upon the same taxable event.

(b) In the event that any county has levied the tax authorized by this section and has, prior to June 26, 1975, either pledged the tax revenues for payment of principal and interest on city revenue or general obligation bonds authorized and issued pursuant to RCW 67.28.150 through 67.28.160 or has authorized and issued revenue or general obligation bonds pursuant to the provisions of RCW 67.28.150 through 67.28.160, such county shall be exempt from the provisions of (a) of this subsection, to the extent that the tax revenues are pledged for payment of principal and interest on bonds issued at any time pursuant to the provisions of RCW 67.28.150 through 67.28.160: PROVIDED, That so much of such pledged tax revenues, together with any investment earnings thereon, not immediately necessary for actual payment of principal and interest on such bonds may be used: (i) In any county with a population of one million or more, for repayment either of limited tax levy general obligation bonds or of any county fund or account from which a loan was made, the proceeds from the bonds or loan being used to pay for constructing, installing, improving, and equipping stadium capital improvement projects, and to pay for any engineering, planning, financial, legal and professional services incident to the development of such stadium capital improvement projects, regardless of the date the debt for such capital improvement projects was or may be incurred; (ii) in any county with a population of one million or more, for repayment or refinancing of bonded indebtedness incurred prior to January 1, 1997, for any purpose authorized by this section or relating to stadium repairs or rehabilitation, including but not limited to the cost of settling legal claims, reimbursing operating funds, interest payments on short-term loans, and any other purpose for which such debt has been incurred if the county has created a public stadium authority to develop a stadium and exhibition center under RCW 36.102.030; or (iii) in other counties, for county-owned facilities for agricultural promotion. A county is exempt under this subsection in respect to city revenue or general obligation bonds issued after April 1, 1991, only if such bonds mature before January 1, 2013.

As used in this subsection (2)(b), "capital improvement projects" may include, but not be limited to a stadium restaurant facility, restroom facilities, artificial turf system, seating facilities, parking facilities and scoreboard and information system adjacent to or within a county owned stadium, together with equipment, utilities, accessories and appurtenances necessary thereto. The stadium restaurant authorized by this subsection (2)(b) shall be operated by a private concessionaire under a contract with the county.

(c)(i) No city within a county exempt under subsection (2)(b) of this section may levy the tax authorized by this section so long as said county is so exempt.

(ii) If bonds have been issued under RCW 43.99N.020 and any necessary property transfers have been made under RCW 36.102.100, no city within a county with a population of one million or more may levy the tax authorized by this section before January 1, 2021.

(iii) However, in the event that any city in a county described in (i) or (ii) of this subsection (2)(c) has levied the tax authorized by this section and has, prior to June 26, 1975, authorized and issued revenue or general obligation bonds pursuant to the provisions of RCW 67.28.150 through 67.28.160, such city may levy the tax so long as the tax revenues are pledged for payment of principal and interest on bonds issued at any time pursuant to the provisions of RCW 67.28.150 through 67.28.160.

(3) Any levy authorized by this section by a county that has levied the tax authorized by this section and has, prior to June 26, 1975, either pledged the tax revenues for payment of principal and interest on city revenue or general obligation bonds authorized and issued pursuant to RCW 67.28.150 through 67.28.160 or has authorized and issued revenue or general obligation bonds pursuant to the provisions of RCW 67.28.150 through 67.28.160 shall be subject to the following:

(a) Taxes collected under this section in any calendar year before 2013 in excess of five million three hundred thousand dollars shall only be used as follows:

(i) Seventy-five percent from January 1, 1992, through December 31, 2000, and seventy percent from January 1, 2001, through December 31, 2012, for art museums, cultural museums, heritage museums, the arts, and the performing arts. Moneys spent under this subsection (3)(a)(i) shall be used for the purposes of this subsection (3)(a)(i) in all parts of the county.

(ii) Twenty-five percent from January 1, 1992, through December 31, 2000, and thirty percent from January 1, 2001, through December 31, 2012, for the following purposes and in a manner reflecting the following order of priority: Stadium purposes as authorized under subsection (2)(b) of this section; acquisition of open space lands; youth sports activities; and tourism promotion. If all or part of the debt on the stadium is refinanced, all revenues under this subsection (3)(a)(ii) shall be used to retire the debt.

(b) From January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2015, in a county with a population of one million or more, all revenues under this section shall be used to retire the debt on the stadium, or deposited in the stadium and exhibition center account under RCW 43.99N.060 after the debt on the stadium is retired.

(c) From January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2020, in a county with a population of one million or more, all revenues under this section shall be deposited in the stadium and exhibition center account under RCW 43.99N.060.

(d) At least seventy percent of moneys spent under (a)(i) of this subsection for the period January 1, 1992, through December 31, 2000, shall be used only for the purchase, design, construction, and remodeling of performing arts, visual arts, heritage, and cultural facilities, and for the purchase of fixed assets that will benefit art, heritage, and cultural organizations. For purposes of this subsection, fixed assets are tangible objects such as machinery and other equipment intended to be held or used for ten years or more. Moneys received under this subsection (3)(d) may be used for payment of principal and interest on bonds issued for capital projects. Qualifying organizations receiving moneys under this subsection (3)(d) must be financially stable and have at least the following:

(i) A legally constituted and working board of directors;

(ii) A record of artistic, heritage, or cultural accomplishments;

(iii) Been in existence and operating for at least two years;

(iv) Demonstrated ability to maintain net current liabilities at less than thirty percent of general operating expenses;

(v) Demonstrated ability to sustain operational capacity subsequent to completion of projects or purchase of machinery and equipment; and

(vi) Evidence that there has been independent financial review of the organization.

(e) At least forty percent of the revenues distributed pursuant to (a)(i) of this subsection for the period January 1, 2001, through December 31, 2012, shall be deposited in an account and shall be used to establish an endowment. Principal in the account shall remain permanent and irreducible. The earnings from investments of balances in the account may only be used for the purposes of (a)(i) of this subsection.

(f) School districts and schools shall not receive revenues distributed pursuant to (a)(i) of this subsection.

(g) Moneys distributed to art museums, cultural museums, heritage museums, the arts, and the performing arts, and moneys distributed for tourism promotion shall be in addition to and may not be used to replace or supplant any other funding by the legislative body of the county.

(h) As used in this section, "tourism promotion" includes activities intended to attract visitors for overnight stays, arts, heritage, and cultural events, and recreational, professional, and amateur sports events. Moneys allocated to tourism promotion in a class AA county shall be allocated to nonprofit organizations formed for the express purpose of tourism promotion in the county. Such organizations shall use moneys from the taxes to promote events in all parts of the class AA county.

(i) No taxes collected under this section may be used for the operation or maintenance of a public stadium that is financed directly or indirectly by bonds to which the tax is pledged. Expenditures for operation or maintenance include all expenditures other than expenditures that directly result in new fixed assets or that directly increase the capacity, life span, or operating economy of existing fixed assets.

(j) No ad valorem property taxes may be used for debt service on bonds issued for a public stadium that is financed by bonds to which the tax is pledged, unless the taxes collected under this section are or are projected to be insufficient to meet debt service requirements on such bonds.

(k) If a substantial part of the operation and management of a public stadium that is financed directly or indirectly by bonds to which the tax is pledged is performed by a nonpublic entity or if a public stadium is sold that is financed directly or indirectly by bonds to which the tax is pledged, any bonds to which the tax is pledged shall be retired. This subsection (3)(k) does not apply in respect to a public stadium under chapter 36.102 RCW transferred to, owned by, or constructed by a public facilities district under chapter 36.100 RCW or a stadium and exhibition center.

(l) The county shall not lease a public stadium that is financed directly or indirectly by bonds to which the tax is pledged to, or authorize the use of the public stadium by, a professional major league sports franchise unless the sports franchise gives the right of first refusal to purchase the sports franchise, upon its sale, to local government. This subsection (3)(l) does not apply to contracts in existence on April 1, 1986.

If a court of competent jurisdiction declares any provision of this subsection (3) invalid, then that invalid provision shall be null and void and the remainder of this section is not affected.

*Sec. 3. RCW 67.28.181 and 1998 c 35 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The legislative body of any municipality may impose an excise tax on the sale of or charge made for the furnishing of lodging that is subject to tax under chapter 82.08 RCW. The rate of tax shall not exceed the lesser of two percent or a rate that, when combined with all other taxes imposed upon sales of lodging within the municipality under this chapter and chapters 36.100, 67.40, 82.08, and 82.14 RCW, equals twelve percent. A tax under this chapter shall not be imposed in increments smaller than tenths of a percent.

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section:

(a) If a municipality was authorized to impose taxes under this chapter or RCW 67.40.100 or both with a total rate exceeding four percent before July 27, 1997, such total authorization shall continue through January 1, 1999, and thereafter the municipality may impose a tax under this section at a rate not exceeding the rate actually imposed by the municipality on January 1, 1999.

(b) If a city or town, other than a municipality imposing a tax under (a) of this subsection, is located in a county that imposed taxes under this chapter with a total rate of four percent or more on January 1, 1997, the city or town may not impose a tax under this section, except that a municipality located in more than one county may impose a tax under this section in each county at the maximum rate that would have been allowed as of March 11, 1998.

(c) If a city has a population of four hundred thousand or more and is located in a county with a population of one million or more, the rate of tax imposed under this chapter by the city shall not exceed the lesser of four percent or a rate that, when combined with all other taxes imposed upon sales of lodging in the municipality under this chapter and chapters 36.100, 67.40, 82.08, and 82.14 RCW, equals fifteen and two-tenths percent.

(d) If a municipality was authorized to impose taxes under this chapter or RCW 67.40.100, or both, at a rate equal to six percent before January 1, 1998, the municipality may impose a tax under this section at a rate not exceeding the rate actually imposed by the municipality on January 1, 1998.

(3) Any county ordinance or resolution adopted under this section shall contain a provision allowing a credit against the county tax for the full amount of any city or town tax imposed under this section upon the same taxable event.

*Sec. 3 was vetoed. See message at end of chapter.

Sec. 4. RCW 67.40.090 and 1995 c 386 s 15 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Commencing April 1, 1982, there is imposed, and the department of revenue shall collect, in King county a special excise tax on the sale of or charge made for the furnishing of lodging ((~~by a hotel, rooming house, tourist court, motel, or trailer camp, and the granting of any similar license to use real property, as distinguished from the renting or leasing of real property~~)) that is subject to tax under chapter 82.08 RCW, except that no such tax may be levied on any premises having fewer than sixty lodging units. ((~~It shall be presumed that the occupancy of real property for a continuous period of one month or more constitutes rental or lease of real property and not a mere license to use or enjoy the same.~~)) The legislature on behalf of the state pledges to maintain and continue this tax until the bonds authorized by this chapter are fully redeemed, both principal and interest.

(2) The rate of the tax imposed under this section shall be as provided in this subsection.

(a) From April 1, 1982, through December 31, 1982, inclusive, the rate shall be three percent in the city of Seattle and two percent in King county outside the city of Seattle.

(b) From January 1, 1983, through June 30, 1988, inclusive, the rate shall be five percent in the city of Seattle and two percent in King county outside the city of Seattle.

(c) From July 1, 1988, through December 31, 1992, inclusive, the rate shall be six percent in the city of Seattle and two and four-tenths percent in King county outside the city of Seattle.

(d) From January 1, 1993, and until bonds and all other borrowings authorized under RCW 67.40.030 are retired, the rate shall be seven percent in the city of Seattle and two and eight-tenths percent in King county outside the city of Seattle.

(e) Except as otherwise provided in (d) of this subsection, on and after the change date, the rate shall be six percent in the city of Seattle and two and four-tenths percent in King county outside the city of Seattle.

(f) As used in this section, "change date" means the October 1st next occurring after certification occurs under (g) of this subsection.

(g) On August 1st of 1998 and of each year thereafter until certification occurs under this subsection, the state treasurer shall determine whether seventy-one and forty-three one-hundredths percent of the revenues actually collected and deposited with the state treasurer for the tax imposed under this section during the twelve months ending June 30th of that year, excluding penalties and interest, exceeds the amount actually paid in debt service during the same period for bonds issued under RCW 67.40.030 by at least two million dollars. If so, the state treasurer shall so certify to the department of revenue.

(3) The proceeds of the special excise tax shall be deposited as provided in this subsection.

(a) Through June 30, 1988, inclusive, all proceeds shall be deposited in the state convention and trade center account.

(b) From July 1, 1988, through December 31, 1992, inclusive, eighty-three and thirty-three one-hundredths percent of the proceeds shall be deposited in the state convention and trade center account. The remainder shall be deposited in the state convention and trade center operations account.

(c) From January 1, 1993, until the change date, eighty-five and seventy-one-hundredths percent of the proceeds shall be deposited in the state convention and trade center account. The remainder shall be deposited in the state convention and trade center operations account.

(d) On and after the change date, eighty-three and thirty-three one-hundredths percent of the proceeds shall be deposited in the state convention and trade center account. The remainder shall be deposited in the state convention and trade center operations account.

(4) Chapter 82.32 RCW applies to the tax imposed under this section.

Sec. 5. RCW 36.100.040 and 1995 c 396 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:

A public facilities district may impose an excise tax on the sale of or charge made for the furnishing of lodging ((~~by a hotel, rooming house, tourist court, motel, or trailer camp, and the granting of any similar license to use real property, as distinguished from the renting or leasing of real property~~)) that is subject to tax under chapter 82.08 RCW, except that no such tax may be levied on any premises having fewer than forty lodging units. However, if a public facilities district has not imposed such an excise tax prior to December 31, 1995, the public facilities district may only impose the excise tax if a ballot proposition authorizing the imposition of the tax has been approved by a simple majority vote of voters of the public facilities district voting on the proposition.

The rate of the tax shall not exceed two percent and the proceeds of the tax shall only be used for the acquisition, design, construction, remodeling, maintenance, equipping, reequipping, repairing, and operation of its public facilities. This excise tax shall not be imposed until the district has approved the proposal to acquire, design, and construct the public facilities.

A public facilities district may not impose the tax authorized in this section if, after the tax authorized in this section was imposed, the effective combined rate of state and local excise taxes, including sales and use taxes and excise taxes on lodging, imposed on the sale of or charge made for furnishing of lodging in any jurisdiction in the public facilities district exceeds eleven and one-half percent.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. This act applies retroactively to events occurring on and after September 1, 2001.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. 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 takes effect immediately.