Except as provided in this section, state-owned armories shall be used strictly for military purposes.

     (1) One room, together with the necessary furniture, heat, light, and janitor service, may be set aside for the exclusive use of bona fide veterans' organizations subject to the direction of the officer in charge. Members of these veterans' organizations and their auxiliaries shall have access to the room and its use at all times.

     (2) A bona fide veterans' organization may use any state armory for athletic and social events without payment of rent whenever the armory is not being used by the organized militia. The adjutant general may require the veterans' organization to pay the cost of heating, lighting, or other miscellaneous expenses incidental to this use.

     (3) The adjutant general may, during an emergency, permit transient lodging of service personnel in armories.

     (4) The adjutant general may, upon the recommendation of the executive head or governing body of a county, city or town, permit transient lodging of anyone in armories. The adjutant general may require the county, city or town to pay no more than the actual cost of staffing, heating, lighting and other miscellaneous expenses incidental to this use.

     (5) Civilian rifle clubs affiliated with the National Rifle Association of America are permitted to use small arms ranges in the armories at least one night each week under regulations prescribed by the adjutant general.

     (6) State-owned armories shall be available, at the discretion of the adjutant general, for use for casual civic purposes, and amateur and professional sports and theatricals upon payment of fixed rental charges and compliance with regulations of the state military department. Children attending primary and high schools have a preferential right to use these armories.

     The adjutant general shall prepare a schedule of rental charges, including a cleaning deposit, and utility costs for each state-owned armory which may not be waived except for activities sponsored by the organized militia or activities provided for in subsection (4) of this section. The rental charges derived from armory rentals less the cleaning deposit shall be paid into the military department rental and lease account under RCW 38.40.210.

[2005 c 252 § 3; 1989 c 19 § 33; 1985 c 295 § 1; 1983 c 268 § 1; 1975 1st ex.s. c 121 § 1; 1973 1st ex.s. c 154 § 56; 1963 c 149 § 1; 1949 c 125 § 1; 1947 c 204 § 1; 1943 c 130 § 93; Rem. Supp. 1949 § 8603-93. Prior: 1923 c 49 § 5; 1917 c 8 § 1; 1909 c 134 § 97; 1907 c 55 § 11; 1903 c 115 §§ 19, 20.]

NOTES:

     Effective date -- 1975 1st ex.s. c 121: "The effective date of this act shall be July 1, 1977." [1975 1st ex.s. c 121 § 2.]

     Severability -- 1973 1st ex.s. c 154: See note following RCW 2.12.030.

SPECIAL ACTS RELATING TO ARMORIES: The following special or temporary acts relating to particular armories are not codified herein:

     (1) 1959 c 181; 1961 c 135; 1963 c 146, Seattle

     (2) 1967 c 37, Prosser

     (3) 1967 c 43, Centralia

     (4) 1967 c 44, Chewelah

     (5) 1967 c 214, Stevens County

     (6) 1967 c 224, Tacoma and Pierce County

     (7) 1967 c 226, Yakima

     (8) 1969 ex.s. c 22, Kirkland.