(1) The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 shall not apply to charges made for labor and services rendered by any person in respect to the constructing, repairing, decorating, or improving of new or existing buildings or other structures used as agricultural employee housing, or to sales of tangible personal property that becomes an ingredient or component of the buildings or other structures during the course of the constructing, repairing, decorating, or improving the buildings or other structures. The exemption is available only if the buyer provides the seller with an exemption certificate in a form and manner prescribed by the department by rule.

     (2) The exemption provided in this section for agricultural employee housing provided to year-round employees of the agricultural employer, only applies if that housing is built to the current building code for single-family or multifamily dwellings according to the state building code, chapter 19.27 RCW.

     (3) Any agricultural employee housing built under this section shall be used according to this section for at least five consecutive years from the date the housing is approved for occupancy, or the full amount of tax otherwise due shall be immediately due and payable together with interest, but not penalties, from the date the housing is approved for occupancy until the date of payment. If at any time agricultural employee housing that is not located on agricultural land ceases to be used in the manner specified in subsection (2) of this section, the full amount of tax otherwise due shall be immediately due and payable with interest, but not penalties, from the date the housing ceases to be used as agricultural employee housing until the date of payment.

     (4) The exemption provided in this section shall not apply to housing built for the occupancy of an employer, family members of an employer, or persons owning stock or shares in a farm partnership or corporation business.

     (5) For purposes of this section and RCW 82.12.02685:

     (a) "Agricultural employee" or "employee" has the same meaning as given in RCW 19.30.010;

     (b) "Agricultural employer" or "employer" has the same meaning as given in RCW 19.30.010; and

     (c) "Agricultural employee housing" means all facilities provided by an agricultural employer, housing authority, local government, state or federal agency, nonprofit community or neighborhood-based organization that is exempt from income tax under section 501(c) of the internal revenue code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)), or for-profit provider of housing for housing agricultural employees on a year-round or seasonal basis, including bathing, food handling, hand washing, laundry, and toilet facilities, single-family and multifamily dwelling units and dormitories, and includes labor camps under RCW 70.114A.110. "Agricultural employee housing" does not include housing regularly provided on a commercial basis to the general public. "Agricultural employee housing" does not include housing provided by a housing authority unless at least eighty percent of the occupants are agricultural employees whose adjusted income is less than fifty percent of median family income, adjusted for household size, for the county where the housing is provided.

[2007 c 54 § 14; 1997 c 438 § 1; 1996 c 117 § 1.]

NOTES:

     Severability -- 2007 c 54: See note following RCW 82.04.050.

     Effective date -- 1997 c 438: "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 [May 20, 1997]." [1997 c 438 § 3.]

     Effective date -- 1996 c 117: "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 shall take effect immediately [March 20, 1996]." [1996 c 117 § 3.]