BILL REQ. #:  S-1949.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/27/03.   

     AN ACT Relating to clarifying the intentions of Senate Bill No. 6835, chapter 367, Laws of 2002; amending RCW 82.12.010, 82.12.020, 82.12.0254, 82.12.0255, 82.12.02565, 82.12.02567, 82.12.0259, 82.12.0277, 82.12.0279, 82.12.0315, 82.12.02595, 82.12.810, 82.12.820, 82.12.840, 82.12.890, 82.12.900, and 82.12.0251; adding a new section to chapter 82.12 RCW; creating a new section; repealing RCW 82.12.0252; and declaring an emergency.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 82.12.010 and 2002 c 367 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     For the purposes of this chapter:
     (1)(a) "Value of the article used" shall mean the consideration, whether money, credit, rights, or other property except trade-in property of like kind, expressed in terms of money, paid or given or contracted to be paid or given by the purchaser to the seller for the article of tangible personal property, the use of which is taxable under this chapter. The term includes the amount of any freight, delivery, or other like transportation charge paid or given by the purchaser to the seller with respect to the purchase of such article. The term also includes, in addition to the consideration paid or given or contracted to be paid or given, the amount of any tariff or duty paid with respect to the importation of the article used. In case the article used is acquired by lease or by gift or is extracted, produced, or manufactured by the person using the same or is sold under conditions wherein the purchase price does not represent the true value thereof, the value of the article used shall be determined as nearly as possible according to the retail selling price at place of use of similar products of like quality and character under such rules as the department of revenue may prescribe.
     (b) In case the articles used are acquired by bailment, the value of the use of the articles so used shall be in an amount representing a reasonable rental for the use of the articles so bailed, determined as nearly as possible according to the value of such use at the places of use of similar products of like quality and character under such rules as the department of revenue may prescribe. In case any such articles of tangible personal property are used in respect to the construction, repairing, decorating, or improving of, and which become or are to become an ingredient or component 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 such articles therein or thereto, whether or not such personal property becomes a part of the realty by virtue of installation, then the value of the use of such articles so used shall be determined according to the retail selling price of such articles, or in the absence of such a selling price, as nearly as possible according to the retail selling price at place of use of similar products of like quality and character or, in the absence of either of these selling price measures, such value may be determined upon a cost basis, in any event under such rules as the department of revenue may prescribe.
     (c) In the case of articles owned by a user engaged in business outside the state which are brought into the state for no more than one hundred eighty days in any period of three hundred sixty-five consecutive days and which are temporarily used for business purposes by the person in this state, the value of the article used shall be an amount representing a reasonable rental for the use of the articles, unless the person has paid tax under this chapter or chapter 82.08 RCW upon the full value of the article used, as defined in (a) of this subsection.
     (d) In the case of articles manufactured or produced by the user and used in the manufacture or production of products sold or to be sold to the department of defense of the United States, the value of the articles used shall be determined according to the value of the ingredients of such articles.
     (e) In the case of an article manufactured or produced for purposes of serving as a prototype for the development of a new or improved product, the value of the article used shall be determined by: (i) The retail selling price of such new or improved product when first offered for sale; or (ii) the value of materials incorporated into the prototype in cases in which the new or improved product is not offered for sale.
     (f) In the case of an article purchased with a direct pay permit under RCW 82.32.087, the value of the article used shall be determined by the retail selling price, as defined in RCW 82.08.010, of such article if but for the use of the direct pay permit the transaction would have been subject to sales tax;
     (2) "Value of the service used" means the consideration, whether money, credit, rights, or other property, expressed in terms of money, paid or given or contracted to be paid or given by the purchaser to the seller for the service, the use of which is taxable under this chapter. If the service is received by gift or under conditions wherein the purchase price does not represent the true value thereof, the value of the service used shall be determined as nearly as possible according to the retail selling price at place of use of similar services of like quality and character under rules the department of revenue may prescribe;
     (3) "Use," "used," "using," or "put to use" shall have their ordinary meaning, and shall mean:
     (a) With respect to tangible personal property, the first act within this state by which the taxpayer takes or assumes dominion or control over the article of tangible personal property (as a consumer), and include installation, storage, withdrawal from storage, distribution, or any other act preparatory to subsequent actual use or consumption within this state; and
     (b) With respect to a service defined in RCW 82.04.050(2)(a), the first act within this state after the service has been performed by which the taxpayer takes or assumes dominion or control over the article of tangible personal property upon which the service was performed (as a consumer), and include installation, storage, withdrawal from storage, distribution, or any other act preparatory to subsequent actual use or consumption of the article within this state;
     (4) "Taxpayer" and "purchaser" include all persons included within the meaning of the word "buyer" and the word "consumer" as defined in chapters 82.04 and 82.08 RCW;
     (5) "Retailer" means every seller as defined in RCW 82.08.010 and every person engaged in the business of selling tangible personal property at retail and every person required to collect from purchasers the tax imposed under this chapter;
     (6) The meaning ascribed to words and phrases in chapters 82.04 and 82.08 RCW, insofar as applicable, shall have full force and effect with respect to taxes imposed under the provisions of this chapter. "Consumer," in addition to the meaning ascribed to it in chapters 82.04 and 82.08 RCW insofar as applicable, shall also mean any person who distributes or displays, or causes to be distributed or displayed, any article of tangible personal property, except newspapers, the primary purpose of which is to promote the sale of products or services. With respect to property distributed to persons within this state by a consumer as defined in this subsection (6), the use of the property shall be deemed to be by such consumer.

Sec. 2   RCW 82.12.020 and 2002 c 367 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) There is hereby levied and there shall be collected from every person in this state a tax or excise for the privilege of using within this state as a consumer: (a) Any article of tangible personal property purchased at retail, or acquired by lease, gift, repossession, or bailment, or extracted or produced or manufactured by the person so using the same, or otherwise furnished to a person engaged in any business taxable under RCW 82.04.280 (2) or (7); or (b) any canned software, regardless of the method of delivery, but excluding canned software that is either provided free of charge or is provided for temporary use in viewing information, or both.
     (2) This tax shall apply to the use of every service defined as a retail sale in RCW 82.04.050 (2)(a) or (3)(a) and the use of every article of tangible personal property, including property acquired at a casual or isolated sale, and including byproducts used by the manufacturer thereof, except as hereinafter provided, irrespective of whether the article or similar articles are manufactured or are available for purchase within this state.
     (3) The provisions of this chapter do not apply in respect to the use of any article of tangible personal property or service taxable under RCW 82.04.050(2)(a) or (3)(a) purchased at retail or acquired by lease, gift, or bailment if the sale to, or the use by, the present user or his bailor or donor has already been subjected to the tax under chapter 82.08 RCW or this chapter and the tax has been paid by the present user or by his bailor or donor.
     (4) Except as provided in ((RCW 82.12.0252)) this section, payment by one purchaser or user of tangible personal property or service of the tax imposed by chapter 82.08 or 82.12 RCW shall not have the effect of exempting any other purchaser or user of the same property or service from the taxes imposed by such chapters. If the sale to, or the use by, the present user or his or her bailor or donor has already been subjected to the tax under chapter 82.08 RCW or this chapter and the tax has been paid by the present user or by his or her bailor or donor; or in respect to the use of property acquired by bailment and the tax has once been paid based on reasonable rental as determined by RCW 82.12.060 measured by the value of the article at time of first use multiplied by the tax rate imposed by chapter 82.08 RCW or this chapter as of the time of first use; or in respect to the use of any article of tangible personal property acquired by bailment, if the property was acquired by a previous bailee from the same bailor for use in the same general activity and the original bailment was prior to June 9, 1961, the tax imposed by this chapter does not apply.
     (((4))) (5) The tax shall be levied and collected in an amount equal to the value of the article used or value of the service used by the taxpayer multiplied by the rate in effect for the retail sales tax under RCW 82.08.020.

Sec. 3   RCW 82.12.0254 and 1998 c 311 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in respect to the use of any airplane, locomotive, railroad car, or watercraft used primarily in conducting interstate or foreign commerce by transporting therein or therewith property and persons for hire or used primarily in commercial deep sea fishing operations outside the territorial waters of the state, and in respect to use of tangible personal property which becomes a component part of any such airplane, locomotive, railroad car, or watercraft((, and)) in the course of repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving the same; also the use of labor and services rendered in respect to such repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving.
     (2) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in respect to the use by a nonresident of this state of any motor vehicle or trailer used exclusively in transporting persons or property across the boundaries of this state and in intrastate operations incidental thereto when such motor vehicle or trailer is registered and licensed in a foreign state and in respect to the use by a nonresident of this state of any motor vehicle or trailer so registered and licensed and used within this state for a period not exceeding fifteen consecutive days under such rules as the department of revenue shall adopt: PROVIDED, That under circumstances determined to be justifiable by the department of revenue a second fifteen day period may be authorized consecutive with the first fifteen day period; and for the purposes of this exemption the term "nonresident" as used herein, shall include a user who has one or more places of business in this state as well as in one or more other states, but the exemption for nonresidents shall apply only to those vehicles which are most frequently dispatched, garaged, serviced, maintained, and operated from the user's place of business in another state((; and)).
     (3) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in respect to the use by the holder of a carrier permit issued by the Interstate Commerce Commission or its successor agency of any motor vehicle or trailer whether owned by or leased with or without driver to the permit holder and used in substantial part in the normal and ordinary course of the user's business for transporting therein persons or property for hire across the boundaries of this state; and in respect to the use of any motor vehicle or trailer while being operated under the authority of a one-transit permit issued by the director of licensing pursuant to RCW 46.16.160 and moving upon the highways from the point of delivery in this state to a point outside this state; and in respect to the use of tangible personal property which becomes a component part of any motor vehicle or trailer used by the holder of a carrier permit issued by the Interstate Commerce Commission or its successor agency authorizing transportation by motor vehicle across the boundaries of this state whether such motor vehicle or trailer is owned by or leased with or without driver to the permit holder, in the course of repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving the same; also the use of labor and services rendered in respect to such repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving.

Sec. 4   RCW 82.12.0255 and 1980 c 37 s 55 are each amended to read as follows:
     The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in respect to the use of any article of tangible personal property or service which the state is prohibited from taxing under the Constitution of the state or under the Constitution or laws of the United States.

Sec. 5   RCW 82.12.02565 and 1999 c 211 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in respect to the use by a manufacturer or processor for hire of machinery and equipment used directly in a manufacturing operation or research and development operation ((or)), to the use by a person engaged in testing for a manufacturer or processor for hire of machinery and equipment used directly in a testing operation, or to the use of labor and services rendered in respect to installing, repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving the machinery and equipment.

Sec. 6   RCW 82.12.02567 and 2001 c 213 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply with respect to machinery and equipment used directly in generating not less than two hundred watts of electricity using wind, sun, or landfill gas as the principal source of power, or to the use of labor and services rendered in respect to installing such machinery and equipment.
     (2) The definitions in RCW 82.08.02567 apply to this section.
     (3) This section expires June 30, 2009.

Sec. 7   RCW 82.12.0259 and 1980 c 37 s 59 are each amended to read as follows:
     The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in respect to the use of tangible personal property or the use of services defined in RCW 82.04.050(2)(a) by corporations which have been incorporated under any act of the congress of the United States and whose principal purposes are to furnish volunteer aid to members of the armed forces of the United States and also to carry on a system of national and international relief and to apply the same in mitigating the sufferings caused by pestilence, famine, fire, flood, and other national calamities and to devise and carry on measures for preventing the same.

Sec. 8   RCW 82.12.0277 and 2001 c 75 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in respect to the use of insulin; prosthetic devices and the components thereof; dental appliances, devices, restorations, and substitutes, and the components thereof, including but not limited to full and partial dentures, crowns, inlays, fillings, braces, and retainers; orthotic devices prescribed for an individual by a person licensed under chapters 18.22, 18.25, 18.57, or 18.71 RCW; hearing instruments dispensed or fitted by a person licensed or certified under chapter 18.35 RCW, and the components thereof; medicines of mineral, animal, and botanical origin prescribed, administered, dispensed, or used in the treatment of an individual by a person licensed under chapter 18.36A RCW; ostomic items; and medically prescribed oxygen, including, but not limited to, oxygen concentrator systems, oxygen enricher systems, liquid oxygen systems, and gaseous, bottled oxygen systems prescribed for an individual by a person licensed under chapter 18.57 or 18.71 RCW for use in the medical treatment of that individual. In addition, the provisions of this chapter shall not apply in respect to the use of labor and services rendered in respect to the repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving of any of the items exempted under this section.

Sec. 9   RCW 82.12.0279 and 1980 c 37 s 77 are each amended to read as follows:
     The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in respect to the use of ferry vessels of the state of Washington or of local governmental units in the state of Washington in transporting pedestrian or vehicular traffic within and outside the territorial waters of the state ((and)), in respect to the use of tangible personal property which becomes a component part of any such ferry vessel, and in respect to the use of labor and services rendered in respect to improving such ferry vessels.

Sec. 10   RCW 82.12.0315 and 1995 2nd sp.s. c 5 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in respect to the use of:
     (a) Production equipment rented to a motion picture or video production business;
     (b) Production equipment acquired and used by a motion picture or video production business in another state, if the acquisition and use occurred more than ninety days before the time the motion picture or video production business entered this state; and
     (c) Production services that are within the scope of RCW 82.04.050(2)(a) and are sold to a motion picture or video production business.
     (2) As used in this section, "production equipment," "production services," and "motion picture or video production business" have the meanings given in RCW 82.08.0315.
     (3) The exemption provided for in this section shall not apply to the use of production equipment rented to, or production equipment or production services that are within the scope of RCW 82.04.050(2)(a) acquired and used by, a motion picture or video production business that is engaged, to any degree, in the production of erotic material, as defined in RCW 9.68.050.

Sec. 11   RCW 82.12.02595 and 1998 c 182 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) This chapter does not apply to the use by a nonprofit charitable organization or state or local governmental entity of any item of tangible personal property that has been donated to the nonprofit charitable organization or state or local governmental entity, or to the subsequent use of the property by a person to whom the property is donated or bailed in furtherance of the purpose for which the property was originally donated.
     (2) This chapter does not apply to the donation of tangible personal property without intervening use to a nonprofit charitable organization, or to the incorporation of tangible personal property without intervening use into real or personal property of or for a nonprofit charitable organization in the course of installing, repairing, cleaning, altering, imprinting, improving, constructing, or decorating the real or personal property for no charge.
     (3) This chapter does not apply to the use by a nonprofit charitable organization of labor and services rendered in respect to installing, repairing, cleaning, altering, imprinting, or improving personal property provided to the charitable organization at no charge, or to the donation of such services.

Sec. 12   RCW 82.12.810 and 1997 c 368 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) For the purposes of this section, "air pollution control facilities" mean any treatment works, control devices and disposal systems, machinery, equipment, structures, property, property improvements, and accessories, that are installed or acquired for the primary purpose of reducing, controlling, or disposing of industrial waste that, if released to the outdoor atmosphere, could cause air pollution, or that are required to meet regulatory requirements applicable to their construction, installation, or operation.
     (2) The provisions of this chapter do not apply in respect to:
     (a) The use of air pollution control facilities installed and used by a light and power business, as defined in RCW 82.16.010, in generating electric power; or
     (b) The use of labor and services performed in respect to the installing of air pollution control facilities.
     (3) The exemption provided under this section applies only to air pollution control facilities that are:
     (a) Constructed or installed after May 15, 1997, and used in a thermal electric generation facility placed in operation after December 31, 1969, and before July 1, 1975; and
     (b) Constructed or installed to meet applicable regulatory requirements established under state or federal law, including the Washington clean air act, chapter 70.94 RCW.
     (4) This section does not apply to the use of tangible personal property for maintenance or repairs of the pollution control equipment or to labor and services performed in respect to such maintenance or repairs.
     (5) If production of electricity at a thermal electric generation facility for any calendar year after 2002 and before 2023 falls below a twenty percent annual capacity factor for the generation facility, all or a portion of the tax previously exempted under this section in respect to construction or installation of air pollution control facilities at the generation facility shall be due according to the schedule provided in RCW 82.08.810(5).
     (6) RCW 82.32.393 applies to this section.

Sec. 13   RCW 82.12.820 and 2000 c 103 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Wholesalers or third-party warehousers who own or operate warehouses or grain elevators, and retailers who own or operate distribution centers, and who have paid the tax levied under RCW 82.12.020 on:
     (a) Material-handling equipment and racking equipment and labor and services rendered in respect to installing, repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving the equipment; or
     (b) Materials incorporated in the construction of a warehouse or grain elevator, are eligible for an exemption on tax paid in the form of a remittance or credit against tax owed. The amount of the remittance or credit is computed under subsection (2) of this section and is based on the state share of use tax.
     (2)(a) A person claiming an exemption from state tax in the form of a remittance under this section must pay the tax imposed by RCW 82.12.020 to the department. The person may then apply to the department for remittance of all or part of the tax paid under RCW 82.12.020. For grain elevators with bushel capacity of one million but less than two million, the remittance is equal to fifty percent of the amount of tax paid. For warehouses with square footage of two hundred thousand and for grain elevators with bushel capacity of two million or more, the remittance is equal to one hundred percent of the amount of tax paid for qualifying construction materials, and fifty percent of the amount of tax paid for qualifying material-handling equipment and racking equipment.
     (b) The department shall determine eligibility under this section based on information provided by the buyer and through audit and other administrative records. The buyer shall on a quarterly basis submit an information sheet, in a form and manner as required by the department by rule, specifying the amount of exempted tax claimed and the qualifying purchases or acquisitions for which the exemption is claimed. The buyer shall retain, in adequate detail to enable the department to determine whether the equipment or construction meets the criteria under this section: Invoices; proof of tax paid; documents describing the material-handling equipment and racking equipment; location and size of warehouses, if applicable; and construction invoices and documents.
     (c) The department shall on a quarterly basis remit or credit exempted amounts to qualifying persons who submitted applications during the previous quarter.
     (3) Warehouse, grain elevators, and material-handling equipment and racking equipment for which an exemption, credit, or deferral has been or is being received under chapter 82.60, 82.61, 82.62, or 82.63 RCW or RCW 82.08.02565 or 82.12.02565 are not eligible for any remittance under this section. Materials incorporated in warehouses and grain elevators upon which construction was initiated prior to May 20, 1997, are not eligible for a remittance under this section.
     (4) The lessor or owner of the warehouse or grain elevator is not eligible for a remittance or credit under this section unless the underlying ownership of the warehouse or grain elevator and material-handling equipment and racking equipment vests exclusively in the same person, or unless the lessor by written contract agrees to pass the economic benefit of the exemption to the lessee in the form of reduced rent payments.
     (5) The definitions in RCW 82.08.820 apply to this section.

Sec. 14   RCW 82.12.840 and 2000 c 40 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The provisions of this chapter do not apply in respect to the use of machinery and equipment, and to services rendered in respect to installing, repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving of eligible machinery and equipment, or tangible personal property that becomes an ingredient or component of eligible machinery and equipment used more than half of the time:
     (a) For gathering, densifying, processing, handling, storing, transporting, or incorporating straw or straw-based products that will result in a reduction in field burning of cereal grains and field and turf grass grown for seed; or
     (b) To decrease air emissions resulting from field burning of cereal grains and field and turf grass grown for seed.
     (2) A person taking the exemption under this section must keep records necessary for the department to verify eligibility under this section.
     (3) The department of ecology shall provide the department with the information necessary for the department to administer this section.
     (4) This section expires January 1, 2006.

Sec. 15   RCW 82.12.890 and 2001 2nd sp.s. c 18 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     The provisions of this chapter do not apply with respect to the use by an eligible person of tangible personal property that becomes an ingredient or component of dairy nutrient management equipment and facilities, as defined in RCW 82.08.890, or to labor and services rendered in respect to repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving eligible tangible personal property. The equipment and facilities must be used exclusively for activities necessary to maintain a dairy management plan as required under chapter 90.64 RCW. This exemption applies to the use of tangible personal property or labor and services made after the dairy nutrient management plan is certified under chapter 90.64 RCW. The exemption certificate and recordkeeping requirements of RCW 82.08.890 apply to this section.

Sec. 16   RCW 82.12.900 and 2001 2nd sp.s. c 18 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     The provisions of this chapter do not apply with respect to the use of anaerobic digesters ((or)), tangible personal property that becomes an ingredient or component of anaerobic digesters ((to treat primarily dairy manure)), or the use of services rendered in respect to installing, repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving eligible tangible personal property by an eligible person establishing or operating an anaerobic digester, as defined in RCW 82.08.900. The anaerobic digester must be used primarily to treat dairy manure.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 17   A new section is added to chapter 82.12 RCW to read as follows:
     The provisions of this chapter do not apply with respect to the use by municipal corporations, the state, and all political subdivisions thereof of tangible personal property consumed and/or of labor and services as defined in RCW 82.04.050(2)(a) rendered in respect to contracts for watershed protection and/or flood prevention. This exemption is limited to that portion of the selling price that is reimbursed by the United States government according to the provisions of the watershed protection and flood prevention act (68 Stat. 666; 16 U.S.C. Sec. 101 et seq.).

Sec. 18   RCW 82.12.0251 and 1997 c 301 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in respect to the use:
     (a) Of any article of tangible personal property brought into the state of Washington by a nonresident thereof for his or her use or enjoyment while temporarily within the state of Washington unless such property is used in conducting a nontransitory business activity within the state of Washington; ((or in respect to the use))
     (b) By a nonresident of Washington of a motor vehicle or trailer which is registered or licensed under the laws of the state of his or her residence, and which is not required to be registered or licensed under the laws of Washington, including motor vehicles or trailers exempt pursuant to a declaration issued by the department of licensing under RCW 46.85.060; ((or in respect to the use))
     (c) Of household goods, personal effects, and private motor vehicles, not including motor homes, by a bona fide resident of Washington, or nonresident members of the armed forces who are stationed in Washington pursuant to military orders, if such articles were acquired and used by such person in another state while a bona fide resident thereof and such acquisition and use occurred more than ninety days prior to the time he or she entered Washington.
     (2) The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to the use by a nonresident of services, as defined in RCW 82.04.050(2)(a), rendered with respect to any property, the use of which is exempt under subsection (1) of this section.
     (3) For purposes of this section, "state" means a state of the United States, any political subdivision thereof, the District of Columbia, and any foreign country or political subdivision thereof.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 19   RCW 82.12.0252 (Exemptions -- Use of tangible personal property upon which tax has been paid -- Use of tangible personal property acquired by a previous bailee from same bailor before June 9, 1961) and 1980 c 37 s 52 are each repealed.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 20   Sections 1 through 19 of this act apply retroactively to June 1, 2002.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 21   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.