HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1328

BYRepresentatives Belcher, Miller, Valle, Locke, Wang, Rust, Appelwick, Doty, Spanel, H. Sommers, Wineberry, R. Fisher, Jacobsen, Fraser, Rasmussen, Brekke, Cole, Leonard, Phillips, Rayburn, K. Wilson, P. King, Anderson, Crane, Morris, Dellwo, Nutley, Jones, Nelson, Chandler, Hine, Hankins and Ebersole

Conditioning golf course eligibility for open space valuation.

House Committe on Revenue

Majority Report:  Do pass. (15)

      Signed by Representatives Wang, Chair; Pruitt, Vice Chair, Holland, Ranking Republican Member; Horn, Assistant Ranking Republican Member, Appelwick, Basich, Brumsickle, Fraser, Fuhrman, Grant, Haugen, Phillips, Rust, H. Sommers and Van Luven.

House Staff:Rick Wickman and Bob Longman (786-7136)

AS PASSED HOUSE JANUARY 10, 1990

BACKGROUND:

For property tax purposes, lands designated as "open space" lands are valued on the basis of current use rather than at market value.  There are three kinds of open space lands as designated under current law: (1) farm and agricultural lands; (2) timber lands; and (3) other open space lands.  The latter category refers to lands regarded as natural lands or lands free of development of any kind, and includes lands used for preservation, conservation or enhancement of scenic resources, streams, and water supplies, soils, wetlands, historic sites, and recreational opportunities.

Removal of lands from open space classification results in assessment of the additional property taxes that would have otherwise been due during the period of current use valuation, and may result in additional penalties.

It is estimated that most golf courses in this state have been classified as open space lands, for the purpose of enhancing recreational opportunities.

SUMMARY:

Golf courses qualifying for designation as open space land may not discriminate on the basis of sex, except as specifically provided in this act.  A finding that discrimination has occurred may result in removal of such land from open space classification, and thus may result in assessment of additional property taxes and penalties.

Use of a golf course may be restricted on the basis of sex no more frequently than one weekend per month for each sex, and two weekdays per week for each sex.  If a golf club provides a class or category of membership providing golfing privileges for more than one adult member of a family, either spouse in that family must be allowed to use the golf facilities at all times, except when the use of the facility is restricted on the basis of sex as authorized by this act.

Fiscal Note:      Requested February 2, 1989.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Representative Belcher, prime sponsor.

House Committee - Testified Against:      Lynn Melby, Washington State Federation of Clubs; Dick Ernst, Rainier Golf & Country Club; Wade Esvelt, Meridian Valley Country Club and Bill Mays, Pacific Northwest Golf Association.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Discrimination on the basis of gender should be eliminated for play on golf courses.  Playing golf should be restricted on the basis of gender no more than one or part of one weekend each calendar month.  Golf courses who discriminate on the basis of gender should not be allowed to continue open space designation for property tax purposes.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      Discrimination on the basis of gender for play on golf courses should be allowed under instances of tournament play.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Yeas 78; Nays 20

Voting Nay: Representatives Ballard, Baugher, Beck, Brooks, Chandler, Crane, Doty, Fuhrman, McLean, Nealey, Padden, Patrick, Schmidt, Silver, Todd, Walker, S. Wilson, Winsley, Wolfe and Zellinsky